Plant genes involved in nitrate uptake and metabolism

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates nucleic acid molecules that are modulated (e.g., upregulated) by nitrogen in corn, to proteins or polypeptides encoded by these nucleic acid molecules, and promoters of these nucleic acid molecules. The present invention relates to a nucleic acid construct having a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn, as well as to expression systems, host cells, plants, and plant seeds having the nucleic acid construct. The present invention also relates to a method of expressing the nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in a plant by growing a transgenic plant or a plant grown from a transgenic seed transformed with the construct. The present invention further relates to an isolated DNA promoter that can be used to direct nitrogen-regulated expression of an isolated nucleic acid in plants.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/869,290, filed Dec. 8, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to plant genes involved in nitrate uptake and metabolism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nitrogen plays an important role in various plant functions, including metabolism, resource allocation, growth, and development (Crawford, N. M., “Nitrate: Nutrient and Signal for Plant Growth,” Plant Cell 7:859-868 (1995); Marschner, M., Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2d ed., Academic Press Ltd.: London (1995); and Stiit et al., “The Molecular Physiological Basis for the Interaction Between Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Nutrients,” Plant Cell Environ. 22:583-622 (1999)). Further, nitrogen is a major component of proteins and nucleic acids, as well as various secondary metabolites found in plants (Marschner, M., Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2d ed., Academic Press Ltd.: London (1995)). Therefore, nitrogen is one of the most important inorganic nutrients of plants. Inorganic nitrogen is added to many crop plants in the form of nitrogenous fertilizers (see Frink et al., “Nitrogen Fertilizer: Retrospect and Prospect,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:1175-1180 (1999)). Nitrogen is principally added to the soil in the form of ammonia (NH₄ ⁺) and nitrate (NO₃ ⁻). However, estimates of nitrogen uptake efficency have shown that between 50 and 70 percent of the applied nitrogen is lost from the plant-soil system (Peoples et al., “Minimizing Gaseous Losses of Nitrogen,” In Nitrogen Fertilizer in the Environment, Bacon, P. E., ed., Marcel Dekker, pp. 565-606 (1995)).

The application of inorganic nutrient fertilizers is one of the major expenses incurred by producers of high-yielding crop plants (see Good et al., “Can Less Yield More? Is Reducing Nutrient Input Into the Environment Compatible with Maintaining Crop Production?” Trends in Plant Science 9(12):597-605 (2004)). Further, reports have indicated that nitrogen-based fertilizers may be associated with environmental damage (see Vitousek et al., “Human Alternation of the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and Consequences,” Ecol. Appl. 7:737-750 (1997)). Therefore, one important way of decreasing the amount of inorganic nitrogen that is applied to plant crops is to develop ways to improve nitrate use efficiency (“NUE”) in plants.

Traditional plant breeding and marker-assisted selection are techniques that have been investigated for developing and identifying plants with increased NUE (see Good et al., “Can Less Yield More? Is Reducing Nutrient Input Into the Environment Compatible with Maintaining Crop Production?” Trends in Plant Science 9(12):597-605 (2004)). However, these approaches are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. An alternative approach is to use genetic engineering techniques to develop transgenic crop plants that have enhanced NUE. This approach requires the identification of genes that enhance NUE. Efforts have been reported regarding identifying genes that are regulated by nitrogen levels in Arabidopsis (Scheible et al., “Genome-Wide Reprogramming of Primary and Secondary Metabolism, Protein Synthesis, Cellular Growth Processes, and the Regulatory Infrastructure of Arabidopsis in Response to Nitrogen,” Plant Physiol. 136:2483-2499 (2004)). However, there is a need to identify genes that are involved in nitrate uptake and metabolism in economically important crop plants such as corn.

The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules from corn (maize) that are modulated by nitrogen (e.g., that up-regulated by nitrogen). The present invention also relates to isolated proteins or polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid molecues. The present invention further relates to promoters of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.

The present invention further relates to a nucleic acid construct having a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention (i.e., a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated, e.g., up-regulated, by nitrogen in corn). The construct also includes a 5′ DNA promoter sequence and a 3′ terminator sequence. The nucleic acid molecule, the DNA promoter sequence, and the terminator sequence are operatively coupled to permit transcription of the nucleic acid molecule.

The present invention also relates to an expression system, host cells, plant cells, plants, and plant seeds having a nucleic acid construct that includes a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of expressing a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in a plant. This method involves providing a transgenic plant or plant seed transformed with a nucleic acid construct having a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn, a 5′ DNA promoter sequence, and a 3′ terminator sequence. The method involves growing the transgenic plant or a transgenic plant grown from the transgenic plant seed under conditions effective to express the nucleic acid molecule in the transgenic plant or the plant grown from the transgenic plant seed.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an isolated DNA promoter from corn suitable for inducing nitrogen-regulated expression of a protein encoded by an isolated DNA molecule operably associated with the DNA promoter. The present invention further relates to a nucleic acid construct including the isolated DNA promoter, as well as expression vectors, host cells, plants, and plant seeds containing the nucleic acid construct. The present invention also relates to a method of directing nitrogen-regulated expression of an isolated nucleic acid in plants. This method involves transforming a plant cell with the nucleic acid construct described in this paragraph and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell. By this method, expression of the nucleic acid molecule, under control of the DNA promoter, occurs in the plant and is upregulated by nitrogen.

Nitrate use efficiency affects both grower profitability and the ecological sustainability of intensive corn production. The present invention is effective in providing a means to improve the NUE by enhancing the nitrogen uptake of crop plants such as corn. In particular, the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention can be used to develop corn germplasm using marker-assisted selection and/or transgenic approaches. Thus, the present invention is useful in increasing the nitrate absorption and usage efficiency by crop plants and thus reduce the use of nitrate supplements. The nucleic acid constructs of the present invention include nucleic acid molecules corresponding to genes of corn plants and, hence, have the most direct bearing on nitrate metabolism in corn. Therefore, such genes may be more directly relevant to corn improvement than genes from non-crop plants such as Arabidopsis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules (e.g., genes) from corn (maize) (e.g., from B73 seedlings) that are modulated (e.g., up-regulated) by nitrogen (e.g., in the form of nitrate, calcium nitrate, etc.). These genes and their promoters are natural targets for use in corn improvement. These genes can be used to improve corn germplasm with the use of marker-assisted selection and/or transgenic approaches. The present invention provides nucleotide sequences of the full-length cDNA clones of such genes. The present invention also provides the amino acid sequences of the isolated proteins or polypeptides encoded by these genes, as well as their putative promoters (upstream of transcription start site of the genes).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACGGAAGGAGTAGAAAATATT GCCTGCTCCGACGACCTTGAATATTCACTGGCCATTTAATTTCTACTTAC AAGCCTGAATGAGCTAGAGATCCATCTGCTTCTGTACGTGCTCGTCAGGT ACGCTCGTAAAAAGAAAAGAAAAAAAAAGAAGAGATCGAGATCGATCTGT TGACGACGCCCCCGTCGCCGAT ATG GGCGACCTCTCTGTCGGCCACAGC CGCCGCTGGTGCGGCCGTTTCGCGGCCGTCCTTTGCCTGTGCGCGGC CTTCTGCAAGCCAGATGAACTCCCGATGGATCCACTGCCGAACTTGC CGCCGACGAGGTCGCTGCAGTGCTTCGAGGACGAACAGGTGTACAGC TGCTGCGAGGGCGCGTACAGGCTAAACCCATCGGGAATCATCGCCGT TCCCGTCGGCGCGGTGGACTACTACTGCGGCGGCGCGTGCGTGGTGG AGACGGAGGACGTGCTCAACTGCGTGGCCAGCGCCCTGGACGGCTTC GCCTTCTACAACGGGGCCTCCGTGGAGGACGTGCGCTACGCACTCAG GCGGGGCTGCAGCCACACCGCCAGAAGAGGCGACTTCAACGATTTGG AGCCGCATCTGGGCGACTACCCTGACATCTATGGCGACGATGATGAG CACAGCTTTGGCAGCAAGGTTGTTGCAGCTCCTCTGAGGTTGCTCGC GTTTCTTGGCGGTGCGGGGCTGTTCTTCCTGGGCCCTTGA (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW13E07-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST13-E07, GB_ACC# BG840928).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:1 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, as follows:

MGDLSVGHSRRWCGRFAAVLCLCAAFCKPDELPMDPLPNLPPTRSLQCFE DEQVYSCCEGAYRLNPSGIIAVPVGAVDYYCGGACVVETEDVLNCVASAL DGFAFYNGASVEDVRYALRRGCSHTARRGDFNDLEPHLGDYPDIYGDDDE HSFGSKVVAAPLRLLAFLGGAGLFFLGP

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:1 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, as follows:

ccgcaagagggagtctttaccgagtgtcacctaatacgcttggcgaaggacctggtaaaagggcccac agggagctttttgctaagtgtctgtacagtggacactcggcaaagagtgagcctttgccgagtgtcac tccgtcaccgttacctggtgtcgtgacgacggcttttctttgtcgagtaccgagtgacactcgacaaa acctttgccgagcgtccgataaaaagtattcggcaaagaagccgttgccgtctttgccgagtgttttc cagactttgccgagtgtttcagacactcggcaaagaacctgattccgatagtgaaggtcttacacccc gatccaccccaattcgtgcgtattggagcaagtacccaaacaaaaccgtactgggaataattacctcc gttcgctgcagtttgcagaacagcagttcaatgctacaggacgacgcagctgcagcgaacatgcatgc atttgaactcactccgttcactgatggacaagaggcatctgggtgactaataaaagaacgacacacac ggacagcttctagaagtattggtagcgcatgaacaacaatgccgctgttagcttgtactgaggcacga aacatgaatctgacctactactgacttctactataataatagtatatagtatggccaggccaggccaa ctccggcgaaaacgggagtacgcatgcagatggagcggcacattagtaggctgtttggtttgaagaat gggctagtctatcatcttctcactctccacttttttgtttggtttgtggaatgaaatgagttgattca tcatcacctcattccttatagttagttagttagtactaatatgaggaatatggtcatcccaccaaatt tgaggaatggatccacgatgtaccaccacattttgcatgaagtgattcctcaaaccaaacacccccaa atgtaaaccgagtcatgcctccgatcccaaccttcgtgtttcccaccaaacacacgcgtacagaggcc aagcacacgcacaaaagcaagcctcgatcgtagcccgtgcctaaccctgccgatgccgtaataaactt gtgtgctccacgcaaccatgaaatgaacctagaaatcgcaggggcgggatgcgagtgaaaaggagcgg gcaggtcaggtaggtttgaactctctcctataataatcctagctagcacacttgcccagattatattg cctgctccgacgaccttgaatattcactggccatttaatttctacttacaagcctgaatgagctagag atccatctgcttctgtacgtgctcgtcaggtacgctcgtaaaaagaaaagaaaaaaaaagaagagatc gagatcgatctgttgacgacgcccccgtcgccgatatgggcgacctctctgtcggccacagccgccgc tggtgcggccgtttcgcggccgtcctttgcctgtgcgcggccttctgcaagccaggtgcgtgctcacc gtcaacacacgcaccattattccaccctcccaaggagcacagtacaacgcacgtacatatacctctcc tcaatcgatatatagttacgtcttacgtactatctagttaatctatcacgttgatgtctaatatagac tccgcatggcatatgcatgcagatgaactcccgatggatccactgccgaacttgccgccgacgaggtc gctgcagtgcttcgaggacgaacaggtaagctaacaagcaagagcgtgtttggtttcatgctaggaca gagttgcataccacgtagctatcataagcctaccacacgtagctatcacagcctgtcgatttcgttcg gtcgcctgacggtaaacatcgctgcccgagaggcgagctctttttgacaagcctcgacgaaccaaata agccaagtcctactgtacgagggcgatcgaggcgccgaggcctgtgtgatgtgatgccgtgtgtcgtg gtcacccaccagctgctgtgtacattggtccccgtgccgcgcgtcgtaaccgcatgcggcatgccgct gcatgcaggtgtacagctgctgcgagggcgcgtacaggctaaacccatcgggaatcatcgccgttccc gtcggcgcggtggactactactgcggcggcgcgtgcgtggtggagacggaggacgtgctcaactgcgt ggccagcgccctggacggcttcgccttctacaacggggcctccgtggaggacgtgcgctacgcactca ggcggggctgcagccacaccgccagaagaggtccccaagtttctcgcctactagctcatctctctcta cgtaccagccaagctagatcgactaccagtctccgcagcagtgcattcggaacgaccgctgacaaact gacaggctcgtgttcctgtcagcgcaggcgacttcaacgatttggagccgcatctgggcgactaccct gacatctatggcgacgatgatgaacacagctttggcagcaaggttgttgcagctcctctgaggttgct cgcgtttattggcggtgcggggctgttcttcctgggcccttgaacgaagatataaaagaactagcgat gtgatccgcgtaaatatatactccgtatatagcatgacatgagtatctagtttgtcttatatggtaaa ccatactaaattttcttgtatggcattaaaaaaaattaagactttatttagttatttgactagttgtt ctctctggatcctctaatcagttcgaactctataagcttttttattccactcctatctagaggtcgca taatatgctaaggtgagatcttgatgtctttcgtttttttaactcgataaagttgttgtgagtctctc ttataaaattatttttaatgctaatattagattttagtcagagatatgcagttgaccgttttgcacta aaatatttttgaatttactatagtattagttgtctactaatcacagctaaaaccgtttttatttttag tttttttataacagaaaaaatatctctggaaacgaaaacggcaacacagtagttcaaaaatatcgaag acaataatttaacatgaaaaatatatatgtaatgatcggaatctaaaaaacaatcactaaatataaac atatagtaacatgtactctcaattgacctgaaaaaagcacataacctatagatccacaaagtaacgaa gattgaagcatgaaaaatagaccatcatacattaaagggttgtgcttatttagctctagaataacctc cttaagagcaacttcatttgcaacaacattgtctagagttaaagagaatattttcttctctgtaaacc atttcaataagcatgaactgggtctaagagacaaattcttaccgttgtgccgacccagaacatgatcg aaatttgtaattcgcttctgtatttgtgaatcatcatctacccaatgtaccatgatacacatgtacct tttattctgatttgatatccacatctccatggtagcactgaagtgacaattaagggttttaaaaaatt tatacaacacatcatttttatgcaaaagagatccattacttcttttctaacaatgacatgtgacttta tagaaaatataggctttaaaggtttaatgaaatccataaagtattcatgttcaagaatgttaaatggg tactcatgaatgataatagtagtataaaacttcctcaaactaattgactcgtcatatttatatggttg gacaatatatagatatacctaccttatgatctttttctgatttgagctcctgctatcttagtaaaacc ttatgataacgcttctaatgcaaccaaaactaagttgttcctctatggcttttagcactacctttgta agtcctatttttgtagctcagaaactttcatttggcccaaatttgctccagagatttgcaattcccct ccactacaacaacatacaaatcaaaatactgccaaacatctaaagtatacttatttgctactttatgg ggtgctcatcaacattagattcact (>MAGI4_(—)8075 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 4037 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, as follows:

GGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAATACAGAACCCTGCAACTG CAAGCTAAGGAGAGTGTGATCACCAACAGCTAGTGCTAGTCCCCCTTCCT TCCATCCATCC ATG GCATGCGTCAGCACCTTCCAGAGCTGCCCCATTG CCAGAAGAGCAAAGATCAACACCAGGTCCAGGGGCAGCAGCAGTAGC GTGGCGAAGGGGTCACCACCACCAGCCTTCCAGTTCCAGTGCAGGGC GTCGACTTTCGCGGCGGACACCAGCCTCCGGCTCGAGCTGGACGAGA ACCCCGAGGCGATCATCTCGGGGGCGTGGCCCGGGAACTGCTCCCTC CTCAGCTACGACGACCTCCGCGCCTACCTCGAGTCGCAGGAGACGGC GGCCCAGGCAGACGATCAGCGCGGCGTGGCGCTCCTGAGCGAGACC ATGTCCACACCCGTGCTGGTGGCCACAGCAGACCAGACCCTGGAGGA CGTCGAGTGCCACTTCGAGGCCGTGTCGGGGCTTCCGGTCGTCGACA GCGGCCTCAGATGCGTCGGGGTGATCGTCAAGAACGACCGGGCAAGA GCCTCTCATGGGTCCAAGACGAAGATATCGGAAGTGATGACATCTCC AGCTATCACACTATCGTCTGACAAAACCGTGATGGATGCTGCTGTTCT CATGCTCAAGAAGAAGATCCACAGATTACCAGTTGTAAACCAGGACG AAAAAGTAATAGGTATAGTTACCCGCGCTGATGTTCTTCGCGTGTTGG AAGGCATGTTGAAGATTTAGGAGCGCAGATACCCATGCTCGGAAGCCAC AGCCTCTTGTAAATATGTAGATGTGCCCGGGCATGGTGTTTCTGAGTAGC AGCAAAGAGATCTACCATGTATAGGAGTTTCTCCTTGTAAATAATAGTAG CACGCCAGGAGACTCCATCCCAGG (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW13A08-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST13-A08, GB_ACC# BG840889).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:4 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, as follows:

MACVSTFQSCPIARRAKINTRSRGSSSSVAKGSPPPAFQFQCRASTFAAD TSLRLELDENPEAIISGAWPGNCSLLSYDDLRAYLESQETAAQADDQRGV ALLSETMSTPVLVATADQTLEDVECHFEAVSGLPVVDSGLRCVGVIVKND RARASHGSKTKISEVMTSPAITLSSDKTVMDAAVLMLKKKIHRLPVVNQD EKVIGIVTRADVLRVLEGMLKI

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:4 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, as follows:

caacgtggagtaggcaagcgttggtcttggccgaaccacgggataaaccactgtgtcaactctgtgat tgatctcttgtggtattgtgttttgttgagactcttttctagccacttggcatttagtgtgctaacac ttaacaagtttttgtggctataagtttaagttttacaggatcacctattcaccccccccccctctagg tgctctcaagttgacaggtgtctccatggtgcctaattgagccgttcttttacgctatccattcgatt ggtttggtgggtatgtgtggtctggctcttgcgatgtttgcccgctggaaacgaaacaatcgtgcata cgtgcgcatgcaattaacggtggtgtttttggcctgtcttgcagcagcgggtgcagcattggcttggc ataagcacgcaaccaaacaaagactaccttttggtcaatgcatgcgaagaatctgtacgagcgggcgt agacaaccaatgatgcgatataaaatttaaggattgaatcatattagaatcgagctttatttctattc attttcgaactaattttttaagtatcctaacttattgtgaagaaacgtaaatatttagatcccgatcc attaccacctctactcatacgtgaaaccaaacacgcggaatatccttctggttcaaatatgcagaagt caatgagcaggacttctgcttgtttgttcagtctctcaggcagggttacaggaggcaatacaagatgt tctccaacgattccctgaatcgttcaccccctctctcagtcctatgattcactcactcacccctcccc ctcttctccgtatgacaggaaatccccctagagggggagagctctaagctccccctccactaattaat catatttactgtgaaattacctatttgtagtgtaattaatagttagcaatgtgtattacgtattataa atattgtaccaatatttaaaactcaaaaaactaatgtataaaaatcaaatagtgcacttaaagtatta agggcagagctgaatagggggattgttggagaagtgaagaaatagggggaagaatagttgagaagggg tatttaaatatgaatagaaagtatgaatggagggaatgtttggagagagctcaagaacaagggacact gagctgcctacaacacgtggccctttttgtccctcttcttttttttctttcgcatctgctggctacaa gaggacacgcccttctattcgccgtatagagcagtgtctgtgaagtaaaagagaactatcctccaagg cttattttgagtgtattactcctggattcttgaatcttagctggtatggtatggtaaggagttacgtt gtccaggagattccaacttacggatccacactgaaaagtttgtattacccatttgttaggccccgttt caatctcacgggataaactttagcttcctgctaaactttagctatgtgaattgaagtgctaaagttta gttttaattaccaccattagctttcctgtttagattacaaatggctaaaagtagctaaaaaaagctgc taaagtttatctcgcaagattggaacagggcctatatggtcactttagagaggcatggaggtttaata gactatgacattcgtacgtggtcacctcaacaaactttattgtttgaccgaaccatagattgaattgt gtgacattgttctttgctcgtattattattaatagaaagtaaccttcttgggtgcggcccatacggtc ctgagcgcactaaatgaggcctcattggccgcggcccattcgatcctcaacgcactggataaagccag cgtggcgtggctaaaccacttcgtttggcatgggcctgtcggtgcacttgcccaaaccatgagcttgt accaaaactcgctagtggtagtggtattagtagtgaagaacttctgcaacttcaaactcaccgattct ctcgcggtcagtttggaagctaaaatatcggtggaaattagagagaatttgataagctaaaatctctt tattatttaaaattgaataataaataaattttaactcctccaatcttctccgtttttatgtctcccaa actcagtgtaccagatcatattcctttcattaaaaaaaaggtgaacaaagacgccaccttatccactg ccacgtgacagggggccaggggaatctcggcggccagtggcggcacgccacgccggccggtcgccccc gtcgctgtacaagatacccatgattggagcggggcaggtgcagagcagcaacgccacggctgcatgag atcaagaagctgccttcacttcgcccactgcagcatgccgtgtcgccgtcagagttgggcgcatatcc agataaaaaaaacttgcctgcttgcactgcagatgcgttgtttttgctaacagcaagcaggcaagtca gcagcctaaccttctttgatatttacagagaagatgaaaaggagaactggagagcagtagtggcagtc acttcactggtcaagcattcctatccacctcggcccacctccacctccctgacagtcattttgttata taaaacccatcaagctcccctgcaaggagatacagaaccctgcaactgcaagctaaggagagtgtgat caccaacagctagtgctagtcccccttccttccatccatccatggcatgcgtcagcaccttccagagc tgccccattgccagaagagcaaagatcaacaccaggtccaggggcagcagcagtagcgtggcgaaggg gtcaccaccaccagccttccagttccagtgcagggcgtcgactttcgcggcggacaccagcctccggc tcgagctggacgagaaccccgaggcgatcatctcgggggcgtggcccgggaactgctccctcctcagc tacgacgacctccgcgcctacctcgagtcgcaggagacggcggcccaggcagacgatcaggtacactt cgatctcgcggcttcttcagttcttgttaccattgtttacatctcctccagctcttgctaacccggcc tggacgggtctcctcctctgtggatatatacagcgcggcgtggcgctcctgagcgagaccatgtccac acccgtgctggtggccacagcagaccagaccctggaggacgtcgagtgccacttcgaggccgtgtcgg ggcttccggtcgtcgacagcggcctcagatgcgtcggggtgatcgtcaagaacgaccgggcaagagcc tctcatggggtcagcacctcgctcctctccctccacctctttctttctcatggggccagggccatgca tgcgcatcaagctgctagtttctcatagacaggcaaataagaacgacgtacgtccgttcagtttaccg gtctgtttctacttgtgacagtccaagacgaagatatcggaagtgatgacatctccagctatcacact atcgtctgacaaaaccgtgatgggtaatcttttttgcatcgcttttcttttcttttcttttcttttct gttcatgtgtgatttttaacaagttgaatctaacagtgcatgcctaacgtctacagatgctgctgttc tcatgctcaagaagaagatccacagattaccagttgtaaaccaggacgaaaaagtaataggtacggtg agtgagtgtcagaatgctcacaagccagcagagattaaaaaaaaaaactgcatgccatacacttaatt agtattatccttaattatcattgacaacacagagattatatgttgcaagggctaatggggttctaaac actgtcaacaggtatagttacccgcgctgatgttcttcgcgtgttggaaggcatgttgaagatttagg agcgcagatacccatgctcggaagccacagcctcttgtaaatatgtagatgtgcccgggcatggtgtt tctgagtagcagcaaagagatctaccatgtataggagttctcc (>MAGI4_(—)31359 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 3987 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length EDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAACCCTT CTCGCTCGGTTGCTCGGGAGCTTTCCCCTTCCTGTTCCTGAAGCTTCCGA CATCCGACCGCCTCCTCCTCCTCGTTCTACTCGCCGCCCCTTCTAGAATC ATCCAGAGGCGTGCCGGTGAAGCGCGAGAGCGGTGAGGC ATG GCGATGC AGACGGGGGTCGCGACCTCCAAGGTCCTCATCCTCGTCGGTGCAGGGAT GACGGGCTCGATCCTGCTGCGGAATGGCCGCTTATCTGATGTGTTGG GAGAACTCCAGGAGATTATGAAGGGTGTAAATCAAGGAACTTCTTCG GGTCCCTATGACATTGCACTTATTCAAGCTCAGATTCGGAATTTAGCG CAAGAAGTCAGAGATTTGACATTGTCAAAGCCCATTACCATACTGAAT GGCAAATCTGACTCGGGAGGCAGTTTATCATCCTACATACTGCCAGC AGCAGCAGTTGGAGCAATGGGTTATTGCTACATGTGGTGGAAGGGGT TGTCTCTCTCAGATGTCATGTTTGTCACAAAACACAACATGGCAAATG CTGTTCAGAGCATGTCAAAGCAGTTGGAGCAAGTTTCATCAGCACTA GCTGCAACAAAAAGACATCTAACTCAACGGCTTGAGAATTTGGATGG CAAAATGGATGAACAAGTAGAGGTCTCCAAAGCTATTAGAAATGAGG TCAATGATGTTAAAGATGACCTGTCTCAAATTGGATTTGATGTCGAAT CAATTCAGAAAATGGTTGCTGGATTGGAGGGAAAGATCGAGTTACTT GAGAACAAACAGGACGTGGCTAATACTGGTATCTGGTATCTCTGCCA AGTAGCAGGCGGTTTAAAAGATGGAATAAACACCAGGTTTTTCCAGG AAACCAGTGAGAAGCTGAAGCTCTCACATTCAGCTCAACCTGAAAAC AAGCCAGTGAAGGGGCTTGAATTTTTTTCGGAAAGCACCATGGAACA GAAAGTAGCTGACTCCAAACCAATTGCGGTGACAGTCGACGCTGAGA AGCCTGAGAAAACCGCTGCTGTAATGGGCACCACAGTGCACAGGTCT ATCAGGTTCTCATATCGGAAGGCAGGCCTTGCTTTGTGATCAAATCCT CTCCGCTTGAGATGCACGTGGCCTTCCTGGTTG (Underlinded=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW15E10-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST15-E10, GB_ACC# BG841093).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:7 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, as follows:

MAMQTGVATSKVLILVGAGMTGSILLRNGRLSDVLGELQEIMKGVNQGTS SGPYDIALIQAQIRNLAQEVRDLTLSKPITILNGKSDSGGSLSSYILPAA AVGAMGYCYMWWKGLSLSDVMFVTKHNMANAVQSMSKQLEQVSSALAATK RHLTQRLENLDGKMDEQVEVSKAIRNEVNDVKDDLSQIGFDVESIQKMVA GLEGKIELLENKQDVANTGIWYLCQVAGGLKDGINTRFFQETSEKLKLSH SAQPENKPVKGLEFFSESTMEQKVADSKPIAVTVDAEKPEKTAAVMGTTV HRSIRFSYRKAGLAL

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:7 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, as follows:

taactctacaagctaagaatcaacatgtatgcaattccataataatcgggcatcatctatcactcatt gctaacttcagcactgaacatgatttcaagagtttttagcagaactactatgcgggtgatctcctttc agatgtagatggtttagaagtgtacataagcttgcaggggcttaaggaactgtttatttaatcttctg tgagcacgaacatccatagaagaactatctgaactgaagctaaagatttgcatgaaatggtaatttgt acacattaagtgcatcatgcaaacagaacgagtacacagtgaaacgatacagacctcccgagtcagat ttgccattcagtatggtaatgggctttgacaatgtcaaatctctgacttcttgcgctaaattccgaat ctaatatcaagcacgagcatgcaaagttaagtagaaatgaataattttaccgagatggaaagaagcaa gagaaacttctaagcagatgctgacactgagatagtgagatgtaagatgtattccatatgaggaagag catacctgagcttgaataagtgcaatgtcatagggacccgaagaagttccttgatttacacccttcat aatctcctagaaacacaaaaggtacatcattgccttaaataaacatttactaggaagtttcagagcat accatcaaaatctgtatgatatgtatcaggaatcactaactagtgaagcataagttatggtacgcaaa acttccgagtgccaattgggcgttgatgtaattttatcacatggtgttaatcacatccacatatagac agaatcaacgcttctagtaccccatcgccaagtcattcaaaaaatatcaggtatcagctatctgacaa cgctcaactatccaaaccgtatgaaagtgcgtgtaatcaaaatgaacatatttttttcggggttgggt gtggggggtataccgacctggagttctcccaacacatcagataagcggccattccgcagcaggatcga gcccgtcatccctgcgaggacaccatttcaccacgtaaggtgtcgaaacaacagccgattggggaaaa tagcatcaaatccgagagagatttgatgggggcgagaggtcgatggcggtgatgagaagaggacctgc accgacgaggatgaggaccttggaggtcgcgacccccgtctgcatcgccatgcctcaccgctctcgcg cttcaccggcacgcctctggatgattctagaaggggcggcgagtagaacgaggaggaggaggcggtcg gatgtcggaagcttcaggaacaggaaggggaaagctcccgagcaaccgagcgagaagggtgcctggac ccgggaccgggacctgagaatttcgtgtgtcacaaacaaacagggtgaaccagttgtgaaatgggacc acgtgtcagtgaagaggtgagtagtagtatttgtgagttgtgactcgagaaatgccgctgcgggctgc ggcctagccacagccacgtcagcaatgtcgaaagtcgaaaccaaccccactccacgtctcccccagga gaagcgaccattcaaagccgccgggagctcggcgtcaccgccgcgagctcgacacctcgacacctcgt gccgccgcagcgcttgctttcgtcccccttacgccactcccacttggccacttcagccaccatctccc tgaagctagtggctaacctcctcaccgccatgggcacccctctcctcatcccccttctcgtcaccctc cagctgttcactacctcctcccccgcggtcgcgtcgtcacacatctccgccatcatctcgcagtcggg cctcgacttcgccaaggacctgctcgtatcccatgccgttgcgaccctcacgcccatgaacgtgccgg acatcgagaggaccatgagcatacccctcgtgggcaccgtccgcatggccgcatccgggattgtgctc cacggcctcgccgtcaccaactccaccgtcgctgtgggggacgcgggtgttgtcgtggccgcctcgtt ggccagcgcgaacctcaccatggagtggaactactcgtatgacgcctggattgtgaccatatccgaca gcgggaatgcttcggtccaggtataaatgaggggaacatatactgtgcagtcatattagtgcaaccgt gcaattaagcaatgatgcatcgatccaatcaaaatccaactatgattgctattttaggtggaacatgg ttagatgcaaaacagtcctgtttggttgatattcgatattccatcagttatgttccccaaggcgtggc ttgctgattggtggctgttaattgaatcataagatactgcccgtttttttaatatactgagtaggaga tatacgcatcttttatgctattaagtatagactgatcgcgcgacacttgaattttggaatatctattt tctgtcagatgtcagaagtagaatcaattatcttagaagtgggtgctaattcacacctattactatat ttaaaatgggattaatataaacactctatttttctcgaaagcgcaagagagctgcgcgaaaatatatt aagaagaagtaaaaggtccaaaaggaccccaagatacagataaggccgacctacggcggccaataaca agcataaatgaaaccatccatgacaaaaacactgctaccagaacagcactacatctatctagctaaca ggtagacctgggataggggcagtaagcaaggacagcctctttgcaccagccataacccaaagatcaat ctccaaaccaacacttctaatagcaacagcaacactaggactcttattgtcaaaaacgtagccattgc gatgtttccaaagggtccaaacaccaagaatgacaagagaattaagaccatttcttgcaatcccagga gtcttggtgatcaagtcttgccaccaatccataaaaacctcttcacaggactgatgggccaagtgttg tagatttacaagaagaagcagcttgaaccaaaattctctagcaaaaacgcagcccagcagcatatgat ttaaggtttcctgatcctgatcacataatggacatctctccggatgatccatacctcttctttgcaac ctatcagctgtccacaccttcttgtgagcgaccaaccacatgaaaaatttagatttcggaggagccca agtcttccaaattatatgaaaaggctcaaactcaattgacccaataaagaaacccctataagcttcct tggaagaatattttccattggcagcaaggcgaaagaaatgcttgtcttcaacatgaggtcttagctga accaaatctaataaatcccacaagaggagatactcgttgatacacccactgaa (>MAGI4_(—)20155 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 3385 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a fill-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAAACTC CCAAATCCTTCGTTTCGTCGTCTCCACACGCAATAGCATCCGAGCAAAGA AGCCAAAGAGCAACTGGGAGCGAGGACGGGAGGCAACAAGCGGCGGCG GC ATG GACCGGAACCTGAGCGGGTTTCTGATCGGGTGCCTGGGCGCC GCCGTGACGCTGCTGGCGTACCAGCAGACGGTGGTGACCAGCACGCA GAGCGTCGCGGCGGGCTTCGTCGTCATCCTCTTCGCCCTCTTCGTCA AGGAAGCATTCATTTCCCTCTGAATCTCTGGTGCGCGTCAGCCAGCCAT GCATGAGGAGGCGTCATCGCTCCGCTGCCTGTATTTCTGCTCGCTAGTTC AGTCCCGCAGCTGCCGCTGTGCTCGTCAGGTTC (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW28B08-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST28-B08, GB_ACC# BG842208).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:10 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, as follows: MDRNLSGFLIGCLGAAVTLLAYQQTVVTSTQSVAAGFVVILFALFVKEGFISL.

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:10 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, as follows:

gatacgactctcgctggtatataaaatctgtttcgtagataaacatgaaaccagaatttttgatcacc atatacttgtttcagaagcaaattggggacaccatatacttgttgccttcaaacgaccgtacaataag ttcagactgaccatctgaatgtcacaagagctagtttagagcagcaagaaattgtcaagtgacctaga catcccgaaccgacgcttcccagacttagcccgaccttccgggtccttcataagctgactccgtggcc cctcaccagaccaacgccgcagccgttgaccttgcggctttttatccccatccggccatccccaaccc aactcccaaatccttcgtttcgtcgtctccacacgcaatagcatccgagcaaagaagccaaagagcaa ctgggagcgaggacgggaggcaacaagcggcggcggcatggaccggaacctgagcgggtttctgatcg ggtgcctgggcgccgccgtgacgctgctggcgtaccagcagacggtggtgaccagcacgcagagcgtc gcggcgggcttcgtcgtcatcctcttcgccctcttcgtcaaggaaggattcatttccctctgaatctc tggtgcgcgtcagccagccatgcatgaggaggcgtcatcgctccgctgcctgtatttctgctcgctag ttcagtcccgcagctgccgctgtgctcgtcaggttcttggaaaaatactgtaatagcgtagtgacttt tatgtacgacacggatggttgttgctggctgaagggtctactctgtcgaaatcgatgtatcttagttt atgctacttgaagaacagcagactgcagatcagcagagttcttgccttcttacgctaattaataatta ttggtacacgaatcctgattgtgttgagccttcttgccgttgctccttccctactaacatctcggctt gccaattcacctatgtatgtttgctttgtatattagtgcaggtattaatggccgcctgtaagtgagtt tgttctcccttgttgaactaataaaattggcatgaattcaccccaaaaagattgatgctgtttctcac tagttttcagcctcagacgactatagatgtccaaacagtgcggaccgtccatttgaaacttgacccgt cacgattttagtccggtccaagcatggccaagcagggttggtaacggcacgacctgtttagcgtgccg ggtttgggcagctacagaggcccgcgtgttttggtccgatccgacacgagcaatgggccgacacagcg gcggcccatttttcatatggcatatggtgccagcggccacacgcccccccaaccaggccacacacccg aaccctatctctaatcccctcaccccctcgggccctccgtccccatctctagcgattcggcgccgtcg ttctcgcccgttgcatcccgtcggctcttgacctcgacggcggacgactctccatcgctgtcgtatgt ggtgctccgacctgcttggacttggagttcctccgtcctccctcgtcactccctccgtctgcgactgg ggactccctaaccctaacccctccggtctccggattcggtggttctagctcctcagctgtgcaaggtt cgtttatctcgtctaatcccctccagatttggtgtctagctgatgtctggtgctcgtctgtggtgtct ggttgccgttgccggtggtcgtcacctgttgctcct (>MAGI4_(—)8905 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 1736 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a fill-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAATCTTG GATCTGGTGGTGGGTTCATCCTTGGCCCACTTCTTCTTGAGCTTGGGTGC ATACCGCAGGTGGCAAGTGCAACAGCAACATTCGTG ATG ATGTTCTCCT CCTCCCTCTCTGTGGTGGAGTTTTACTTCCTGCACAGATTCCCCCTGCC TTTTGCTGGCTACCTCATCTTCATTTCCATATTGGCTGGATTCTGGGG CCAGTGTTTGGTTAGGAAGATCGTGCATGTGCTCAAGAGAGCATCGC TTATTGTCTTCATCCTCTCCTCTGTTATCTTCGTCAGTGCTCTTACGAT GGGTGTCGTTGGAACCCAGAAGAGCATTTCGATGATCAACAATCACG AATATATGGGGTTCCTCAACTTCTGCGAGTAACTCAAACACCATCAGAC TGTCGATCCGTCCGGGAGAATCCAGGCCAATGCCTAATTGACCTCATCTC CCTCAAAATCTAGAAGAATAAAGTCGCCGAGTATGTGCACAAGTTAGCTC CTCGCCAACATGTGCGCATTTAGACCGACAGAGTCGCTGTAGTGAATTCA GCTCGTGTTAGCTCCTGGCTAACGAGCTGACCATACGGCTTTAGTTTTGT GAAGTGGGCGCGATTTCGTCATGTCATGCATGTGTTAGCTCCTGGCTAAC CTGCAAATGCGTGTGTTGGTGCAGGTTTTTGTCACGTCTGCGTCAGCTCC TGGCTGACCAGCAGTTGTTTGTCGTTCATTCTCTGCGTCAGCTCCTGGCT GACC (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW31A10-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST31-A10, GB_ACC# BG842452).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:13 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14, as follows:

MMFSSSLSVVEFYFLHRFPLPFAGYLIFISILAGFWGQCLVRKIVHVLKR ASLIVFILSSVIFVSALTMGVVGTQKSISMINNHEYMGFLNFCE

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:13 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, as follows:

cttgggcggtagagctttttattagcttttcaaaaagttcaaggtcatcaaggtcagagtttaaatct aaaagctatgcctaaaatataaaatgggtcatactgagcacccatacatatgatgatcttgtccagta ccacatctgatacacacagagcattacggtgacccatgttccatatcttaaggtaacgaaggtttgtc ctaagttaaagttttgaaactttgacaacaatatctacaaaaataattattttttacttaaagaaatt atatattgtgctagatgttttaataataaatataatagttttatttttatttagtcaatgtttatgaa tattttgttattaatgataaaagtttcaaaattttgacttagtataaactttcgtgatcttaagatag ggaagagagggagtgagtaggtatcaattgcacccaggtaatgatcattttcaacggtcaaattacta aaaatagccgttaccaaaaactcaacagtgtacatgatgtggagcgatccggggggagacacccactt acgttcaatgaaaatgctagtccacgaaggagacggaagcccaccctggcctctctttgaggcgaagc cacgttccggccaatcgtctcacagcctctatgcaggctggaatgtcacccatgctgcacctcacctc aaccatcgtaaatcttaaggaccattcttcttaattaactcatttgcaagggtttgtagcgccgcttt accttagtacatgtgttacagtaaacaaacaattgccagtgctttatatgatttcgatccatcatatt ttaggtccaaaacagcatcttcactcaaagagacagattaaagctgtttggactgctttagctataat aaaaatactgtagaaaaaacagaagtcggtggaagccgcagcgaacatgttctgattttcacggaaat acggcttgaaacgcactcggcttgcacaaacagaatgggaattgactgatatttacaatgttccatgc aacaaatatttgcagttttgcagcctagcctggtgctagcgcaagaatgaacaacaaataactgctgg tcagccaggagctgacgcagagaatgaacgacaaacaactgctggtcagccaggagctgacgcagacg tgacaaaaacctgcaccaacacacgcatttgcaggttagccaggagctaacacatgcatgacatgacg aaatcgcgcccacttcacaaaactaaagccgtatggtcagctcgttagccaggagctaacacgagctg aattcactacagcgactctgtcggtctaaatgcgcacatgttggcgaggagctaacttgtgcacatac tcggcgactttattcttctagattttgagggagatgaggtcaattaggcattggcctggattctcccg gacggatcgacagtctgatggtgtttgagttactcgcagaagttgaggaaccccatatattcgtgatt gttgatcatcgaaatgctcttctgggttccaacgacacctgaaactcaccgaaacaagaggccattag gagagaagttaaaaatcaaactagattgatttagacgaaacaagtaaaagagctaatataatgctaca tccgttctcgaatatttgtcgtccgttagttcattttttaaaatgaactaaaacgtgacaaataaaaa agaacggagaatggagtgagtattccttaagattatttttctcaaggatgcatgctataattgcaaaa tcaatttaagcaacaccggtacgtttagttcaatttaagcaacaccggtacgtttagttcaattcaac ttggagcggtatcaggttagcaatttgccaagtttaaagctaagtagcaagtcaatgagttatcaata ggttcatacccatcgtaagagcactgacgaagataacagaggagaggatgaagacaataagcgatgct ctcttgagcacatgcacgatcttcctaaccaaacactggccccagaatccagccaatatggaaatgaa gatgaggtagccagctgcagatagagaaacagtgcaagttattaactcgttaccatataacaatcaca cttatgaaaacgtctacattttgaggaattggaatctaactaatagagtaggttatttctttagaacg tgacatttcataa (>MAGI4_(—)154269 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 2189 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:16, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAAAAGT GCTCCCGGAAGACTCCAAGCTGCAGCTACCGGCCTTCCTCTCCCCCATTC CAATTCCGAGAACAGGGGCGGCGGAGTCAACCAGGTACG ATG TGCTCGG TAGCGAGGCTGGCGTTTGTGCTTGCACTGGCCATAGCCGCCTCGTCAA TTGAGGTTGCGGAGAGCAGAGATTTTAATATCTTTGCTCAGGGCAGC TTGCCTGATGCAACCAAGGGATCGTCTGGTCTAGCTGCAACCAGTGG AAAGTTGTGTCAGTTATGCGAGCAGTACTCATCCGAGGCGCTCCTCTA TCTCACACAAAACGAGACCCAGACTGAGATTCTTAGCATTCTACACCA TGAATGTGCCAGCCTTGCCCCTCTCAAACAGCAGTGCATCACGCTGG TTGACTACTACGTACCCCTTTTCTTCTTGGAGGTCTCCATGGTTACCC CTGAGAAGTTCTGCGAGTCGATGCATCTCTGCAAGAAGGGGATGAAG ATTAGCCTACCCACCCGGGAGGGTACTTGTGGTTTGTGCCACCATGTT GTTGTTGAAATTCTTATCATGCTTAAAGACCCCAACATGCAGCTGGAA GTAATCGACCTACTCACCAAAACATGCAGCAAGGCGCAGAACTATGA ACAGTAGTGCAAGCGGCTGGTCCTCAAGTATATTCCACTTATTCTGGTGA AGGGCCAGAAATTCCTTGAGACAACGGATGTCTGCTCTGTGATACATGCA TGCAAAGCAGGCACACAAGCATCAATGGAAGCCATGCCTCTGTCTGCCAT GTTGTGAAGGTGATGCGA (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW42B12-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST42-B12, GB_ACC# BG873755).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:16 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:17, as follows:

MCSVARLAFVLALAIAASSIEVAESRDFNIFAQGSLPDATKGSSGLAATS GKLCQLCEQYSSEALLYLTQNETQTEILSILHHECASLAPLKQQCITLVD YYVPLFFLEVSMVTPEKFCESMHLCKKGMKISLPTREGTCGLCHHVVVEI LIMLKDPNMQLEVIDLLTKTCSKAQNYEQ

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:16 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:18, as follows.

gcactcatagcacatctgaggttccctttcttgaacttagctcacctactgttcatagttctgcgcct tgctgcatgttttggtgagtaggtcgattacttccagctgcaagcttgcagcaaacaaagaaaggcat tacagtatgtacagagtacagagcagtacaacacagaagaatgttggtgacagatagtgaaaatatgg ttattacctgcatgttggggtctttaagcatgataagaatttcaacaacaacatggtggcacaaacca caagtaccctcccgggtgggtaggctaatcttcatccccttcttgcagagatgcatcgactcgcagaa cttctcaggggtaaccatggagacctccaagaagaaaaggggtacgtagtagtcaaccagcgtgatgc actgcagcagggtgaatcatcaacacaacatttaacacagctgaaaacgtggtaccaatggaaggatc acaagttacctatacctgctgtttgagaggggcaaggctggcacattcatggtgtagaatgctaagaa tctcagtctgggtctcgttttgtgtgagatagaggagcgcctcggatgagtactgctcgcataactga cacaactttccactggttgcagctagaccagacgatcccttggttgcatcaggcaagctgccctgagc tgaattgaagacagaagaaaggattggccagaaatgcaaaacttcagaaaaacttgagttcctgtgag gaatagcagctaagctgaagctacgccctctacattgagtagaactgatggcttagacgtaattgctt tctttaacatgtcaccggactaaatgaagatacgaacttgtcaaacaaagaaggaatttagataaact aattgaaactatcacgagatctccatcgaaaagaaactatcactagacctgataattcactgctatgg atcaacattcaacaaagaataaagagagtaaggagcaaaaatcagtagattgaaagcttaccaaagat attaaaatctctgctctccgcaacctcaattgacgaggcggctatggccagtgcaagcacaaacgcca gcctcgctaccgagcacatcgtacctgcttaccactaccagttggtcagttgacaggaacaaaactac tgcttgaagaaaactatcgcagtgaaatcagctgtggctgatggacgcagaaaagctggcttgctcaa agcttctccataaagccaaaaggtaaccaaaaaaaaaagagaaaggaaatgtatcctagggccctctc tctacgtcatgtaacggatcagtagaagtttcagattcattcagcccgacgtaactgaagaattcagt tcgcttcaagatgtagccatcagattcacgtatttggagtcaagccaagatagtaccaattggtccgc atccacattccaggcaacagattcacgagattcagctcgctccacgccagcagagctgctactattct ggcaccactccaaatacgcctttgcagcagattagcaaagcattttacgctcgcttttgcgctttatt ttgcccctcgtttcctttccaggtagcttccggttccgaagaatcggaggtccttggattcagggaca aggggtcgaactgggcagcaaatcaagaaccgaggggagacggtagtacagagagcccaggagaagct aacatatgaatggggaattaaagacgcatctcacctggttgactccgccgcccctgttctcggaattg gaatgggagagaggaaggccggtatctgcatcttggactcttccgggagcactttgttttcttaaagc ttcgtgttacattaagaagatgcatgagcatgtagaacagtgtgtgtggccgtgtgtgtgagaacctg agatatttttgcttctttggtggccaagatgtgttagaaaggcataatcttttctca (>MAGI4_(—)114997 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 1961 bp)

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length EDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:19, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAATATAG CCAGAACTCTTGCATCCTGGTGATGGTAAACTGCCGTGCCAGTATAAACG CGAAGGCAGGTCACACATACTCACAAGTCCGTCCCATCTCAGGTCATCCA TCCATCCATCCCTGCAGCA ATG GCGTCTGCAGTGACCAGCAGCGACAA GGAGCAGGCCGTCCCTACCATCGACGCTGACGAAGCGCACGCGCTGC TGAGCTCCGGCCATGGCTACGTGGATGTCAGGATGCGGGGGGACTTC CACAAGGCGCATGCGCCCGGTGCTCGGAACGTTCCCTACTACCTGTC CGTCACGCCGCAAGGGAAGGAGAAGAACCCACACTTTGTAGAGGAAG TGGCTGCCTTCTGTGGGAAGGATGATGTCTTCATTGTGGGTTGCAAC ACGGGGAACAGATCCAGGTTCGCGACGGCAGACCTTCTGAACGCGGG GTTCAAGAACGTGAGGAACCTGCAAGGTGGTTACCGCTCCTTTCAGC AGCGAGCTCAACAGCAGTAGACATCACGTCCTGAAGGTATGCCAGGGAT GCTGCAGTTGAACG (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW43D12-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST43-D12, GB_ACC# BG873856).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:19 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:20, as follows:

MASAVTSSDKEQAVPTIDADEAHALLSSGHGYVDVRMRGDFHKAHAPGAR NVPYYLSVTPQGKEKNPHFVEEVAAFCGKDDVFIVGCNTGNRSRFATADL LNAGFKNVRNLQGGYRSFQQRAQQQ

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:19 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21, as follows:

cgcactaagaaggcagggaattgtgtggcaaatataggtacatgctacacgtgtgatatttcccgatt tgtcaatctgggacatgaagttaacatcgcaaattataatgttacaggaaccaggtatggtgctagct tgcgtaagcaaatcaagaagatggaggtatctcagcattccaagtacttttgcgagttctgtgggaag gtacatttctgttagttaccctgtttctgcatccaagttttctaatctttgatctattgaactgcgag ctgtctttatgttgtactcgttatcatcaccactgctgttatgaaatgtaggctgcagtcagattgat tttgagcacatgaaatcaattagttttcgatatatctgtttgtcacaagcacatgaaatcaattagtc ttcgatatatctgtttgtcacatttgaatgatttataagatgtctgggcatgtccatcaatgtgtttc taagatacatttgaagacagacagcatttgttccgaatccaacctttgctgtgctgtgtttccagttt gctgtgaagaggaaagcagttggaatttgggggtgcaaggactgtgggaaggtgaaggctggtggtgc ttacaccatgaagtaagtaattcttcgcctgtccgaaaaccacaatttgttagccacggctaaattct gttaatgtgtttgcagcactgctagtgcggtcaccgtcaggagcacgatccgccgcctgagggagcag actgaagcatgatatagctctttatattattggggtttcctgtagttgctcttgtcaggcatgttgtg ggggccttatctagtggaaatgtggaatcactgtactggctgttttgccgagacaatgctccttatat ttggtttatgctctaggatctcaaagttgtgttaagatttgcccttggttaccgttctgaatctgaca agtgatatttcatcctatgccatcttgacgtcgaatttggttgtggttttctatgcgcttggctgtgt caatggtttgctattctgttcttgaaattctacagatactgctgcgtctctgctggttgagtctggtt tagatagcaaccagtccttattattggtctttcaagttcaagtcaactaaaatgcgacaaataaaaaa aagaatggagggagtatataactgttcaagtcaaccaatccttattacgcctgcacttgtgtccaaaa agaaatgccccggagctattattggtctgttgccagataagcagtgacgacgcagcatcgaaggtcag agacgacttttttgcgagaacgagcatcaagctgacggaatggagcattattccgataaaaaaaaggt atagccagaactcttgcatcctggtgatggtaaactgccgtgccagtataaacgcgaaggcaggtcac acatactcacaagtccgtcccatctcaggtcatccatccatccatccctgcagcaatggcgtctgcag tgaccagcaggtaaacatagcttctgagtgcatctgatgttgcttacagtaacattacatgcatagag cagaagatcggatgcatctggattaaccagagtcagtcttgtcttggtgtgcactgcagcgacaagga gcaggccgtccctaccatcgacgctgacgaagcgcacgcgctgctgagctccggccatggctacgtgg atgtcaggtgcgtagagctcagccagtcagggacgcgcctatgcgtgtgctggagcttccagacgaac tgacgctgacggggacgaggtggttctccttcgtgcaggatgcggggggacttccacaaggcgcatgc gcccggtgctcggaacgttccctactacctgtccgtcacgccgcaaggtcagtttcttgctcgctggc gttggcgctggcactggcattggggttattgatttgagctgcctctgtccccgtgtagggaaggagaa gaacccacactttgtagaggaagtggctgccttctgtgggaaggatgatgtcttcattgtggtagcta ttcactcatataaataaataaataaatgtactagtactctataaatagatagatacgcctgtaatcaa ggagttgtcgtgtagggttgcaacacggggaacagatccaggttcgcgacggcagaccttctgaacgc ggtaaacacagcccatccgagctttagcatcaatccagttagctgtatgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgt gtttaactgagggtcacactagtctgctcgcat (>MAGI4_(—)143540 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 2277 bp)

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:22, as follows

AAGATAGCTGCAAAACAAGCGAGTTACTTACAACCAAACAGAAGGGTAGA AACCACCTGAAGCC ATG TGCATTGCTGCATGGATTTGGCAGGCTCACCC TGTGCACCAACTCCTCCTGCTTCTCAACAGAGATGAGTTCCACAGCAG GCCTACAAAAGCAGTAGGATGGTGGGGTGAAGGCTCAAAGAAGATCCT TGGTGGCAGGGATGTGCTTGGTGGAGGAACATGGATGGGGTGCACCA AGGATGGAAGGCTTGCCTTCCTGACCAATGTGCTTCAACCAGATGCCA TGCCCGGTGCACGGACTAGGGGAGATCTGCCTCTCAAATTCCTGCAGA GCAACAAGAGCCCACTCGAAGTTGCAACTGAAGTGGCAGAAGAAGCTG ATGAATACAATGGCTTCAACCTCATACTAGCTGATCTAACAACAAATAT CATGGTTTATGTGTCAAACCGGCCTAAGGGTCAGCCTGCAACAATTCA ACTCGTGTCACCAGGACTCCATGTGCTGTCCAATGCAAGGCTAGATAG CCCTTGGCAGAAGGCAATTCTCCTCGGTAAAAACTTCAGGGAGCTTCT TAGGGAGCATGGTGCTGATGAGGTTGAAGTGAAGGATATAGTTGAGAG GCTAATGACTGACACCACAAAGGCTGACAAAGATAGACTGCCAAACAC TGGTTGTGATCCCAACTGGGAGCATGGTCTGAGCTCCATCTTCATTGA GGTGCAAACTGACCAAGGGCCCTATGGGACACGGAGCACAGCCGTTTT ATCAGTGAACTATGATGGCGAAGCTAGCTTGTACGAGAAGTATCTTGA GAGTGGTATATGGAAGGATCACACAGTGAGTTACCAGATAGAG TAG TA GGCATTGCACAGGAAAAGTTGGCGACCTCA (Underlined=start and stop codons; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product AM45C08-1T3 Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:22 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:23, as follows:

MCIAAWIWQAHPVHQLLLLLNRDEFHSRPTKAVGWWGEGSKKILGGRDVL GGGTWMGCTKDGRLAFLTNVLEPDAMPGARTRGDLPLKFLQSNKSPLEVA TEVAEEADEYNGFNLILADLTTNIMVYVSNRPKGQPATIQLVSPGLHVLS NARLDSPWQKAILLGKNFRELLREHGADEVEVKDIVERLMTDTTKADKDR LPNTGCDPNWEHGLSSIFIEVQTDQGPYGTRSTAVLSVNYDGEASLYEKY LESGIWKDHTVSYQIE (The above sequences are presented after trimming GeneRacer Oligo sequence. Cloned in pCR4-TOPO wctor at the “TOPO Cloning site”.)

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAATCAG CCGCAGTCGCGTCGCGTCGCGTCGCGTCCAGTCCAATCCTCGGAGCCTCA CACGGGCGGACGAGCGGGAGCTTCTCCCAATCTCCCCTGCCCTGCCCTGC CCTGCCGCCGCGCTTAGCTTCGCATCTTCCCCTCCTCCTCCTCCTCCTTC CTCGGCCAAGCGAGGAGCGAGGCGCGGGCGCGAGCGCGTCGTTGAG ATG GATTCGGAGGCGGTGCAGCACGGCCTTCTCCCTCTGTCTGCCTGTCCTCC TACCGCCAACAGCTGCGCGCATTACAGCCGTGGGTGCAGCGTCGTGG CGCCCTGCTGCGGCCAGGCCTTCGGCTGCCGCCATTGCCACAACGAC GCCAAGAACTCGCTGGAGGTCGACCCGCGCGACCGGCACGAGATCCC CCGCCACGAAATAAAGAAGGTGATCTGTTCTCTCTGCTCCAAGGAAC AGGACGTGCAACAGAACTGCTCCAGCTGTGGGGCCTGCATGGGCAAG TACTTCTGTAAAGTATGCAAGTTCTTCGATGATGATGCCTCAAAGGGC CAGTACCACTGTGACGGATGTGGAATATGTAGAACCGGCGGCGTGGA GAACTTTTTCCACTGTGATAAATGTGGGTGTTGCTACAGCAATGTCTT GAAGGATTCCCACCACTGCGTCGAAAGAGCAATGCATCACAACTGCC CCGTCTGCTTTGAGTATCTGTTCGACTCCACGAAGGACATCAGCGTGC TGCAATGTGGGCATACCATCCATTTGGAGTGCATGAACGAGATGAGA GCACACCATCACTTCTCATGCCCAGTGTGCTCGAGGTCCGCCTGCGA CATGTCGGCCACATGGCGGAAGCTCGACGAGGAGGTCGCGGCCACG CCGATGCCTGACATCTACCAGAAGCACATGGTGTGGATCCTGTGCAA CGACTGCAGCGCGACCTCGAGCGTGCGGTTCCACGTGCTGGGGCACA AGTGCCCCGCGTGCAGCTCGTACAACACCCGGGAGACGAGGGCTGCG TGCCCCAGGATCTGAGGCGAACCAGAGGCCATGTCACAAAATGCCAGGG AGATGCCGTCCAACGACCATCTGTCTGCAGGACGTTGCTGCGCTTAAGGT TAAAGGCTAGCGCGAGACCAGGCCTGGTAGTCCAGTCTTGAGTTTGGTGC TGGAGCATTTGTAATGTTCCGGTAAAATGTAATGCGTCCATGAGTGCTGT CCAGGCAGTAAGCACACCTGTGGATCGGGGCCGGCGCAAGGTCCCTAGGC AAGCTGCAGGATTAGTGGGGCTATTCATGTTTAGGGCGCGAATGCAACGA (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW55C10-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST55-C10, GB_ACC# BM072886).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:24 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:25, as follows:

MDSEAVQHGLLPLSACPPTANSCAHYSRGCSVVAPCCGQAFGCRHCHNDA KNSLEVDPRDRHEIPRHEIKKVICSLCSKEQDVQQNCSSCGACMGKYFCK VCKFFDDDASKGQYHCDGCGICRTGGVENFFHCDKCGCCYSNVLKDSHHC VERAMHHNCPVCFEYLFDSTKDISVLQCGHTIHLECMNEMRAHHHFSCPV CSRSACDMSATWRKLDEEVAATPMPDIYQKHMVWILCNDCSATSSVRFHV LGHKCPACSSYNTRETRAACPRI

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:24 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:26, as follows:

ccttacaggttatcacttaccgcctccgttttcgaatatttatcgttcgctagttaatcttaatttaa acttaaatgaggcaaataaacgtttaaactattctcttgatcgtgtgtctgattgtcttgttgtttaa aatgcctcctagatcgatcgtcgtagtgcaggttgttttagacaaagttgaactgcgatcagaccgag accggacaaccattgagcagttattttcctattcatcgtggactaactggaagatattttctgagctc caaaaaatatccaaaggaagggagaacgtgaaggacgaggtcggaccggacacgcctcccctcgctaa tcattgaggcggaggcggcggaggcgattttgggaacactcgcaggtagattttgcgtgaacttggac gagggtcattttcgctttggatgaatccacgaggtggtgtcactgcacgcgcacggggccctcaaacc gtttgaaaaccaaaccgaaggcaacaaaacgagactctcatctcatctgactctacggccagctcaag tgatctgctgctggtggccgacctggcggcgtgatctcgctcccgtgcccgtctcctccatccgacgc gtacatggcccgccatcctcatccatccgccctccagaggaccagtccagaccaataataaaagggaa ggtcgacgacgggctcgctccaatccggcgaaccgcgtccccgtcagcctgtcatcccgtgggcgcgc ggctgtcgacctgcgcatcagcttctatgattagccaggagcaataatttattactcctatttgccag gcgacgttcgtccaattcgacccggcaggcagcaggcagcagctgtgctcctgtgggtgggtgggtca tgggtgaccacatgcatcgatggagccagggccgccgtgtgcgcagccaactctacctatccccgccc ccgggatgggcgatggcaactatcctatcgcaacaatatcctggggtgggggctataaaacggagcgg cccgcgtggggcgcgcctccatcagccgcagtcgcgtcgcgtcgcgtcgcgtccagtccaatcctcgg agcctcacacgggcggacgagcgggagcttctcccaatctcccctgccctgccctgccctgccgccgc gcttagcttcgcatcttcccctcctcctcctcctccttcctcggccaagcgaggagcgaggcgcgggc gcgagcgcgtcgttgagatggattcggaggcggtgcagcacgggtaagcaagcaaagcaatccatgga tcgatccaggacacagggaggagctaggaagaggaacaatctcatgatctcattcatctgacacagcc ttctccctctgtctgcctgtcctcctaccgccaacagctgcgcgcattacagccgtgggtgcagcgtc gtggcgccctgctgcggccaggccttcggctgccgccattgccacaacgacgccaaggttcggtggtt tccctccttccgttttcgcttcggctccggttcagcagatgttctgaaacaaccctgtcccgtgcccc ggcagaactcgctggaggtcgacccgcgcgaccggcacgagatcccccgccacgaaataaagaaggtc agcgttccctccctctgctcaaagagcaatctcctgcctgtttcaaccattgcctatctcgtgttcgt ctttgttattaccgtgagcaaagaaaggaagaaacaaacaagagcgccgccttctctcttctccttct ccatgtaatggagcatttgttccgccgcgtagtcgagtgcaagcagcggttttcctcttttggaaacc cacccccacgcacggttccgttccaatctcgcccttccaattgaccaacacaaacctttcctaagatt tcttgtcctccttacccttctacagacaagtacgaaacgcaatcgcacaaggttatactactactagc ttttagtgttctagcgaccttagatttttttttttggttaggcatccctgatttttctcacacttaaa agcttcttcagataaggccatatcagctcagctcagtgctctgggagccgttctgcacttcacttgcg tgtcactaaaaacttgactgctttccgcgatgtgctccgcaccaagtggccggcactgcgtggtccac aggatttttcaagagaaagccggggtcacgggtgccacttgaagccaaggacaggcgtctgggattgg agaatatatgagaaagggataccgtcagaggcacatctcaccgtcaaactgaacagggtctaactgct tccagctgatttgattgagtttgagtgctgcatagttgaggacctggatatagtgacgtgtcctgaca ggtgtctttggacctattagcagtgaatctgacgtcgatcggctaaagcaatcatgttcgattcttat ccttttttttttgagagtatatgcctgattcgataaacgttcctatcctgtttcctgatgatgcatat atgttgtttcgattcatatagaatcataccatccatctattttgtttaaaaaaaaaatttctgggtgg ccatgggcacagcatgcctgttcttaagataacgattccagtaactgttcccttctgtcactgaactc atatgaatcgagacttaactggagctgttgcgcaggtgatctgttctctctgctccaaggaacaggac gtaagttgtctaccaaaacgtactcctacaacagtttttcaggagcacgcatcttttggctgtactac tactgctaactgcatggaaactgctcattcccatcggcaggtgcaacagaactgctccagctgtgggg cctgcatgggcaagtacttctgtaaagtatgcaagttcttcgatgatgatgtaagcgtactcgaatcc cagacgatgaacaaagaaactgaactcgatgcgttgtttactgcgtttcttttttcccccttcttctt cacgtacatactgtactgctcttggtccaggtctcaaagggccagtaccactgtgacggatgtggaat atgtaggtaagcaccaccacgctgatggctacgtctaaagacttgacgcgcagaagtgtaaaacttct gtcagccgttcaaaactgataaattcgggttcctcgtcttcttgttgtttatgcagaaccggcggcgt ggagaactttttccactgtgataaatgtggtgagtttctgcgcggacttctttctgctaagattctgt aaccatgctatgcagcaaagatttcactcgcgcccttattggtgtccttgttgccgtccgacagggtg ttgctacagcaatgtcttgaaggattcccaccactgcgtcgaaagagcaatgcatcacaactgccccg tctgctttgaggtgagagacctccgtttcaacggaacattcactctgaatgttccaatctcttgatat tgagaaggtttccctctgttttttttcacagtatctgttcgactccacgaaggacatcagcgtgctgc aatgtgggcataccatccatttggagtgcatgaacgagatgagagcacaccatcagtaagcatatata ccgttctcttcggagctgagaaacggtgccacctcacaacatcctcttttagtcgcagtgaccttaca gtctcagccctgtttggtctttggcagcttctcatgcccagtgtgctcgaggtccgcctgcgacatgt cggccacatggcggaagctcgacgaggaggtcgcggccacgccgatgcctgacatctaccagaagcac atggtaagaagccgaccgcccactcgttcgtcgtcccgttacatcttttccacagccatggctcgctg tttgacgagctctgaacctgtccggggtgccgattgctggaactgaacggcaaatgaacgctgtggtg tgagtgcaggtgtggatcctgtgcaacgactgcagcgcgacctcgagcgtgcggttccacgtgctggg gcacaagtgccccgcgtgcagctcgtacaacacccgggagacgagggctgcgtgccccaggatctgag gcgaaccagaggccatgtcacaaaatgccagggagatgccgtccaacgatcatctgtctgcaggacgt tgctgcgcttaaggttaaaggctagcgcgagaccaggcctggtagtccagtcttgagtttggtgctgg agcatttgtaatgttccggtaaaatgtaatgcgtccatgagtgctgtccaggcagtaagcacacctgt ggatcggggccggcgcaaggtccctaggcaagctgcaggattagtggggctattcatgtttagggcgc gaatgcaacgaaattacccgtgggccgtgggctcggtatgtaacagaaccgattatttctattacaat aataacatgcagttctattgggccgagcctaatcaggcaccacgaatgtgaataattgcacatggcgc atatatggcgggcagtagatacatataaaatggagaaaatccgtttattgccatcaaaacttatactg atcactacaataccatctaaaatgatgtgctcccttcaaaaccattggtttatattttctatcctttc attgccattgccgttacataatggcgcatgtggcatatatgggcggcgtatgtaggttcaggatggtc acacgacatatgacgagactacagagacatggtcaagagaagttcagtggattgtgacattctgatct aagacttcttaaaattggagttaataagatcgataatactcgtaccaataatgcacatcttgcttttt agaagcctgttttgaaataaccccaggattaagcatgtttggcccaaagaaatttttgtgatggtggt cgaccgagaagttttcttgactgcatgccagtgaggacaaaaaaacacatatgaaagaatcgtgttgg tctgtgagaatagatcaggaagttttctcgactgcgcgaccatggatggttggggtgtttcatcaagg atccgctttaaacacatacctttttgccttggtgatggataaggacataccggacataaaggggataa cccttggtgtgtgtttttttgcagacaatgtaatgctagttgatgaaagtcgggcatgagtaaatgga aaactagagttgcggcaagaaactttataatcaaaaggttttagacttagtagaactaaaatagaata tattggatgcgatttcagcactacatatgaggaatgagatcttagtttagaaggtctaggaaggacac ctttagatatttagtatcagcctatagagagaccgggatattaatgaagatgctagccataaaatcaa agtagagtcagtgaagtggagtcaagcatctggcattttatatgacaaagtgggaattgcaaaagcta aaaagaaagttttaggacaacgattagaccttctatattatatggaacataattttagcctacaaaaa gatgatatgtttagcagataaatgttgcggt&atacatatgttacgttggatttgtgaacatacaaaa agggatcgagtttagaatgatgatatacatgatagactaggggtagcaccagtcgatcgatatggttt gaatatatccaacggagacctatagaggtgtcaatatgtcttaggacctgtttgaaagcatccagttt ttaagaaattggtttatagaaattaaagtggttccaaacatacaagtttatgccccagtttatataaa ctggattatcaatttcttaaaaaccaagaagctagtctttgctagctaaaaccaacttttgcttgttt aattacataatgcccttgttggttgcatggaatttacatctattgtcgtcgcttttaagatagaggaa gggtatgttagtaattgtgtatcaaaaaatagaaaatttgtttcttagaactaagttccaaacaccct cacccaacttttttataaactagtttctataaactggagatagaaattggtttttaataaaccggtat gctttcaaacaataccttaggattctaagatgtgataccaatgagaaaaggaagaggaagactgaagt tggtatgggaggtgataataaaatgagtcttgaaaaaatgagatatatctaaagatttagccttgaat agaaatgcatgaaaataactatccatatgtttgaaccttgactttgagttttgttgaatttttaactc tagcctacgccaatttgtttgggactaaaaggttatgttgttgttattgccgctataaatggtgttca acactttcttcaagattatgatattttgttttctacaccaacaatattactgttggggtctccttctc tgccgaaggtcctcaggatgaagaaactgtctttggttcatcttggtaagatacgtcaaaaggaccga atgccgaagctgtgacagacatgcagggaatatagcagagcttcgataagagttaaagcttcggctta agatgattatgaaggtcatacaagaaaccaagccaccaatgaaaagacctgtttatccttaaaatttg tattagaacaatgtatagatatcagggtcataaatgtacttttgcttgggcggcgtcccgtgcctata aatagatgaactgtacccccgtactgttgacactttcattgaaagtcattctcgcactctctccttca agcaagacgaaggtactaatgtaatataatgtttgtaatggttcattagaatgttatccaaactatgt cattaccttgatatagaaaataaagtgaattcataagataataccacattgtgatattatctccatga gaaatgaagatccgctcttcttcaccctcgcccaaaaaccatcatctttgagagaagataattgaaag gaaattgggttaaccatttcctataactaattttggtgggtgatgatcaacacaaacccatggactaa ctagtttgtctagaattcatggattacaggtgcataaggttcaacacaaaccaagaaagaaatccggt tagggacacaattaaaaatggagcaaagacttga (>MAGI4_(—)73717 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 7106 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:27, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAGCTGC TATTTTCTTCTTACATTGTCCACTGCGCTAGCTAGCTCGCATCTACCTGG AAAGCTGAAAGCTAGCCAGAGCGCTAGCTAGCTTCGTTCCTCGTCGCCGC GCGCCGGCCAG ATG ACTGCTCACCAGACTTGCTGCGATGATGCCGTTGC CGCCGGCACTGCACCGGCTGCCAGGAGGAGGCGCCTCAAATTGACGAG GCCGTCGGCCTCGCTCTTGATGGCGAGGAAGCTAAGGAAGAAGGCTG CCGGCAGCAAACGCCCAAGGGCGGCAGCGTCGAGGAAGCGCGCGAT GGCGATCAGGAGGAAGATGGAAGCGCTGAGGCTGCTCGTGCCACTCT GCGGCCGAGACAACGGCTCGGTGACCGGTGGGGCGGTCGAACGACT GGACGAGCTCCTCATGCACGCCGCCGGGTACATCCTGCGCCTCCAGA TGCAGGTCAGAGTGATGCAGCTTATGGTCCATGCACTAAATGACCGG CCCGAGGATTAATCTTCTTCCCAAGACCATGTGATCTTCCTTCTTTAATT TCTTCTTCATCTTCTTCGCGTGCCTGTGTTGCACGAGGCAGCTGTGCGTC GGTGTCTGGGTGCAAATCA (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW61A10-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST61-A10, GB_ACC# BM073122).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:27 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28, as follows:

MTAHQTCCDDAVAAGTAPAARRRRLKLTRPSASLLMARKLRKKAAGSKRP RAAASRKRAMAIRRKMEALRLLVPLCGRDNGSVTGGAVERLDELLMHAAG YILRLQMQVRVMQLMVHALNDRPED

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:27 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, as follows:

taaatctgacctccaaaatgtctctaatgaaagtgtctgcgagaaacagtattgctcgaccgaggaag aaaggtatttataacacacccatcacaaatggttggcttaattaaccgcaagtgcagaatagatttgc actgttggttcacttaataaaactgcaagtgaaaatatactttttctactatcggttttgttaagtga acctaccgattttgcactggtgattatttaagccaacctcatgtgataatatgaatgatttgcacgtg gttttattaagcgaactaacaatgtaaatgtgtttccaatggtggtttttaagtcgggaccgtcattt tactttaactggcgcgcaccgtgctgttttatacttgactgatgaaccttcgtggtgagtggaagcgg tgtggagcgagggctagctcatgcggccagccggcgacatttctcttgttccgatcccccggccggcc aaccactcaattaagtaggtgatcgattggcatgcatgcatggatgcatatcagcaaatgcatatcat atgcctcgctagctggctagtatatatagtggatgtggatcggatcatgtgacggccgggcggtggct gcattgcattggccctgcatatatgcacggtgacacaacaacggggcccaaataaaggacacgtcgaa ggtgcgcgccccagtggcgtccgacagcgcgttttgacgaggaaaagagggtgcgggcacgcgcgcac gcatatgctcgcggcatgcagcctcagtggccgatgacgagtggcgtgtggtgtggccggcggccggc cggccgggtgcctgcgtggtgcatgttgcttgccatgcatgcgtgaaatgagccgtcagcgagcgagc tgagggcgggcatgtggctgcatgtggccactagtttggagaacatgcggcatatgccccggaccttc ctgggcgctcaagcaaacaccgctctcgtgctcgctctcttgggaaatcgaagatgcatgctacccaa cgtgacctggatctcttttacgtacgcacaccctagcgtgctgctctcctgtgtccccgcctcctgct agctgttcacaatatccacgcgatttaacaaacagatatgtgtgcatgctactgcttgttttcctatt caatatagtaatctgctttatttagagtaccgtacctgtgccgtcagtgcccccaaccccaacgtaac tacgcacgcacatggcatctaatctatataagcatcagaccttgctcccttaatctcgcgctgctatt ttcttattacattgtccactgcgctagctagctcgcatctacctggaaagatgaaagctagccagagc gctagctagcttcgttcctcgtcgccgcgcgccggccagatgactgctcaccagacttgctgcgatga tgccgttgccgccggcactgcaccggctgccaggaggaggcgcctcaaattgacgaggccgtcggcct cgctcttgatggcgaggaagctaaggaagaaggctgccggcagcaaacgcccaagggcggcagcgtcg aggaagcgcgcgatggcgatcaggaggaagatggaagcgctgaggctgctcgtgccactctgcggccg agacaacggctcggtgaccggtggggcggtcgaacgactggacgagctcctcatgcacgccgccgggt acatcctgcgcctccagatgcaggtcagagtgatgcagcttatggtccatgcactaaatgaccggccc gaggattaatcttcttcccaagaccatgtgatcttccttctttaatttcttcttcatcttcttcgcgt gcctgtgttgcacgaggcagctgtgcgtcggtgtctgggtgcaaatcattggctgagtgtgttattgg tgatattatttgttcgtatatacagaatatatactcatgcatgcatactgtatgagatgatagagtaa atctagacatatatagttcaaggaaacctacagccaacagttgtatgcatgtgaggggggttccttgt ctgtatgtacgcaattgtctattgtgtgacggttgaaattgaaatttcgtcaatcatcatttcttcgt ctagataacgtgtgtacaaacggcgagtgtttaaatgaactagagctaataattagtggctaaaatta gctggagacatccaaacaccctaactaataatttaactattagttatttttagtaaattagtcaatac ttagctagctatttgttagctagctaattctactagcattttttagctaactagctattagctctagt acattcaaacacccttttagggactaatttttagtctctccattttatttcattttagtcactaaatt accaaatacgaaaattaaagctctattttagtttccggtatttgacaatttag (>MAGI4_(—)145622 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 2433 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:30, as follows:

GGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAATCCATCCATTCCCCTCGCC AAGCCGCCACGGCCTGACTTTCCCTCCCGCACACCCGCGACCATACAGGC AAGTCAGGCATACACCAACAACGCTCGTCGTGCACCTCGCGCCTCAGGTC ACCCCACCAAATTCCTCTTGATACGCCGAATTTCTTTTGCTAATTCTGCT ACCTCCTGTCGCTAAGCCACCATATTCAGTCTAACCCCTGCTCTGAGCTC ACCTGATTGGCGGCTCCGTTCGGCCTCTGGGCCTGGGTGTACCGACTACC GAGGGCTCTTTCGAAATGTCAATTGGGTCGAGTTTGGTGGGCTACGTGAA GC ATG GATGAATTTCCCGGCTGGAAGCGGGAGGCGGCAGCAGCATCCGG GGCCGGAGCACCTGTCGCCGATGACGCCGCTCCCGCTGGCGCGGTAG GGGTCGGTCTACTCGCTCACGTTCGACGAGTTCCAGAGCTCGCTCGG TGGGGCCACCAAGGACTTCGGATCCATGAACATGGACGAGCTCCTCC GCAACATCTGGTCGGCGGAGGAGACACACAGCGTCACAGCTGCGGAC CATGCCGCGCGGGCGCCGTACGTCCAGTCCCAGGGCTCGCTCACCCT CCCCTGCACGCTCAGCCAGAAGACCGTCGACGAGGTCTAGCGTGACC TCGTGTGCAACGGTGGAGGACCCTCCGACGAGGCTGTGGCGCCGCCCCAC CGGCCCAACGGCAGCCGACGCTCGGGGAGATC ATG CTGGAGGAGTTCCT CGTCCGCGCCGGCGTGGTGAGGGAGGACATGATGGCGGCGGCGCCC GTACCACCAGCGCCGGGTTGCCCACCACCTCATCTGCAACCGCCAAT GCTGTTTCCACATGGCAATGTGTTTGCTCCCTTAGTGCCTCCGCTCCA ATTCGGGAATGGGTTTGTGTCGGGGGCTCTCAGTCAGCAGCAGGGAG GTGTTCTTGAGGCCCCGGCGGTATCGCCGCGGCCGGTGACGGCAAGC GGGTTCGGGAAGATGGAAGGAGACGACTTGTCGCATCTGTCGCCATC ACCGGTGTCGTACGTTTTTTTGTGCTGGTTTGAGGGGAAGGAAGCCA CCAGCTGTGGACAAGGTGGTTGAGAGGAGGCAACGCC (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon, coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW76H12-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST76-H12, GB_ACC# BM073865).

A predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:30 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31, as follows:

MDEFPGWKREAAAASGAGAPVADDAAPAGAVGVGLLAHVRRVPELARWG HQGLRIHEHGRAPPQHLVGGGDTQRHSCGPCRAGAVRPVPGLAHPPLHAQ PEDRRRGLA

Another predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:30 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32, as follows:

MLEEFLVRAGVVREDMMAAAPVPPAPGCPPPHLQPPMLFPHGNVFAPLVP PLQFGNGFVSGALSQQQGGVLEAPAVSPRPVTASGFGKMEGDDLSHLSPS PVSYVFLCWFEGKEATSCGQGG

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:30 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:33, as follows:

tagaatagccagcatcgacaaattacttacaaatagaaacattacctgtttcctcccacgcgacctcg cggccaactcccggttcttgatcatccggcgttgcctcctctcaaccaccttctccacagctggtggc ttccttcccctcaaaccagcacaaaaaaacgtacgacaccggtgatggcgacagatgcgacaagtcgt ctccttccatcttcccgaacccgcttgccgtcaccggccgcggcgataccgccggggcctcaagaaca cctccctgctgctgactgagagcccccgacacaaacccattcccgaattggagcggaggcactaaggg agcaaacacattgccatgtggaaacagcattggcggttgcagatgaggtggtgggcaacccggcgctg gtggtacgggcgccgccgccatcatgtcctccctcaccacgccggcgcggacgaggaactcctccagc atgatctccccgagcgtcggctgccgttgggccggtggggcggcgccacagcctcgtcggagggtcct ccaccgttgcacacgaggtcacgctagacctcgtcgacggtattctggctgagcgtgcaggggagggt gagcgagccctggcactggacgtacggcgcccgcgcggcatggtccgcagctgtgacgctgtgtgtct cctccgccgaccagatgttgcggaggagctcgtccatgttcatggatccgaagtccttggtggcccca ccgagcgagctctggaactcgtcgaacgtgagcgagtagaccgacccctaccgcgccagcgggagcgg cgtcatcggcgacaggtgctccggccccggatgctgctgccgcctcccgcttccagccgggaaattca tccatgcttcacgtagcccaccaaactcgacccaattgacatttcgaaagagccctcggtagtcggta cacccaggcccagaggccgaacggagccgccaatcaggtgagctcagagcaggggttagactgaatat ggtggcttagcgacaggaggtagcagaattagcaaaagaaattcggcgtatcaagaggaatttggtgg ggtgacctgaggcgcgaggtgcacgacgagcgttgttggtgtatgcctgacttgcctgtatggtcgcg ggtgtgcgggagggaaagtcaggccgtggcggcttggcgaggggaatggatggatatgtgtcgccacc aaggagtcgtgtgggggagtttaaaacgtcgcaaggctcgaggtcgcacatggtgttgggtttgggtg cgtgctgggtcataaaagctgaaagggaattaggcttacacctatttcctaaatgattttggtggttg aattgtccaacacaaa (>MAGI4_(—)7232 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 1376 bp)

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:34, as follows:

ATTCCCGTCTTACCTAGCGCTAGGGTTAGTACGCGTCCACGGCGACGACC TCTGCGCGGAGTGTGCTCCGATTGGCTGGCCTCCTCGATCCTCCTTCCCG CGAACGCACGCGCGCGCGAGGGAGAGGTTGAGACTTGAGAGATAGACGAA AGACGAAACAAGGGAAGGAGACGCCGTGCTCGCCTATTGGCCGCCGCCTC CGCTCCTTCGCGCCCAATGGCTTCTGCAGCATATCAATATC ATG CAGCAT AGCAGTACTCAGACCCTTACTACGCAGGCGTTGTTGCTCCCTATGGAAG TCAAGATGTGTGTCCGAGGAGCCTGTCTATGTGAACGCCAAGCAGTAC CGCGGCATTCTAAGACGGCGGCAGTCACGTGCCAAGGCCGAGCT TGA GAGAAAGCGCTGGTCAAGCAAGAAAGCCGTATCTTCACGAGTCCCCGTCA TCAGCACGCGATGACGAGGAGGGCGAGAGGGAACGGTGGACGCTTCCTAA ACACGAAGAAGAGTGACCGTGTCCCTCCTGATGACTTGATACAGCTACGA CGACACAACGAGGCTTGAAGAGGTAGCGGTCTGGCTGGCATCCTAGAGCA GCGGTTTCTGTCCACAGGCACGTGCATCTGAGACCGGATCCGTAGCTCCA CTCCACAGCATATGCGCAGCCCATCCATCTCGTGCACACTTG (Underlined=start and stop codons; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product AM77A01-5T3 Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:34 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:35, as follows:

MQHSSTQTLTTQALLLPMEVKMCVRGACLCERQAVPRHSKTAAVTCQGRA (The above sequences are presented after trimming GeneRacer Oligo sequence. Cloned in pCR4-TOPO vector at the “TOPO Cloning site”.)

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:36, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAAAAAA CCCAAATCAAATTTCGCCTTCGTCGTCGTCTTATCGTCTCAGATTTGACT CC ATG TCGGCGGCGCTCGCGGTGACGGACGAGGTGGCCCTGCCGATCC GGGCGGTGGGGGATCTAGCGGCCGCCGCCGAGGTCTCGCGGGAGGA GGTCGCCGTCATCACCCAGTGCGCGGCGCTCGGTGGGAAGTTGCCTT TTGAAGATGCATCAGTTGGTGCGGTTCTTGCAGTCATTAAAAACGTGG AAAGCTTGAGGGAGCAATTGGTTGCTGAAATCAGGCGGGTGCTGAAA GCTGGTGGAAGAGTATTGGTGCAGAGCCCTGCACCCTCATCCAGTCA GAAGCCGAACACTGATATTGAGCGCAAGTTACTGATGGGTGGATTTG CTGAAGTGCAATCTTCTGCTGCAAGCTCGCAGGATAGCGTGCAATCT GTTACAGTTAAGGCAAAGAAGGCTAGCTGGAGCATGGGCTCTTCTTT TCCCCTTAAGAAAACAACAAAAGCCCTTCCCAAGATTCAAATTGACGA CGACTCTGATCTGATTGATGAAGACAGTCTCTTGACTGAGGAGGACC TGAAGAAACCACAACTTCCAGTTGTTGGGGACTGTGAGGTGGGGGCA GCAAAGAAAGCATGCAAGAACTGTACTTGTGGCAGGGCTGAGGCCGA GGAGAAGGTTGGGAAGCTGGAGCTCACTGCGGAGCAGATCAATAACC CTCAGTCAGCTTGTGGCAGTTGTGGGTTGGGTGATGCCTTCCGCTGT GGAACCTGTCCCTACAGAGGTCTTCCACCATTCAAGCCTGGCGAGAA GGTTTCCTTGTCTGGCAACTTCCTTGCTGCTGACATATGATGGCATCG CCAACATCGGCAAAACAAGGA (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ ACE product CW88H03-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (Derived from MEST88-H03, GB_ACC# BM079064).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:36 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:37, as follows:

MSAALAVTDEVALPIRAVGDLAAAAEVSREEVAVITQCAALGGKLPFEDA SVGAVLAVIKNVESLREQLVAEIRRVLKAGGRVLVQSPAPSSSQKPNTDI ERKLLMGGFAEVQSSAASSQDSVQSVTVKAKKASWSMGSSFPLKKTTKAL PKIQIDDDSDLIDEDSLLTEEDLKKPQLPVVGDCEVGAAKKACKNCTCGR AEAEEKVGKLELTAEQINNPQSACGSCGLGDAFRCGTCPYRGLPPFKPGE KVSLSGNFLAADI]

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:36 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:38, as follows:

gctgtaccagttgaggtactccttgacgtcctcgtacatggtgggcgccagcgggtgccagatgccgg agtcgaggtagagcacggggtcgtcgtacttgatgccggcgcccctaagcaccggcaagtaggatccg gcgatcatcttgaggaagttctggaggttgtccgccgagccgccgagccagaactggaggctgaggat gtacagccaggcgtcctgcgccttgtcggagggcaggtacttgagcaccttgggcagcgtgcgcacga gcttgagcatgctgtcggcgaagttgctggagttggacttgctgcgcttgaagagctggaagaagggg ctcttggactgccccagctgcgacatgctgaaggagccgagcttgttgaggcgcatgacctcgggcat ggaggggaagacaaggacggcgtccatgcggtcgcgctccttctcggccgcggccttgaccttgagcg ccagctcatcgacgaagatgagggagccgatgaagacgttgacgtcggcgaggtcggcgaggaaggta gcccacgacctcgaacgacgcggcgcggcgcgggtcagcgttgagctgctgcacggcggccgtgacgg acgactggtactgcgcctccagcacgacgtagacgaccttgacccgaggcaggccccgcgggtcggcc ggcaccacgcgccgcacctcgggcttggtctgcgtgaacaagccgttgccgccggcgaccgcgcaccg gatggcgccggcgcgccgcggctgctggcgacggctgctcaggaggaacgagtgcagcggcacgggcg ccgccaggagctgcttctgcgccgcggaggcgaatggggtggacactagcgacgacgacatggcgcct gctcacaggacggagccggcgggcggagaaacgcgcgcctggacactgacgcgacgctcgagcgcagt aagtaaaaaaaaatctacactagactactagagtaaggcgcctgttcttggctcgtggctggacaatt gttcttggcggccgccgtccctcggaaacagagcagggaaaggagaagaagcgagcaggggagcgcgg gaggcgggaaaatgtataggttgtccgtgtccacgtccttcgtctcaattaagaagaggcatccaggc tcacaaaatcaatctgaaaacacatgcactgatgcacacttgtgtttgtgtagaggcgcttatatatc atccaaaagacaagtcactcacacgcaaattcgcattggctaacagaagctatttggaatgcagttca gtcgactaacaacgtaggtacccccgtctccttgttttgccgatgttggcgatgccatcatatgtcag cagcaaggaagttgccagacaaggaaacctgccaatcggagaagcagcagcagtgaacgttcaagatc cagagtacaatcgacagacatattttgatctcctcgagaattctatcaggggaggagacgagtagaac tgttttaccttctcgccaggcttgaatggtggaagacctctgtagggacaggttccacagcggaaggc atcacccaacccacactgcaaagaaaaatcaaggatcatttacagatatcaccagacgtgataggtaa cctagtccgagtgaacgtatgaaatttcacgagggggcacaagtgccacctgtaagcaatacttacac tgccacaagctgactgagggttattgatctgctccgcagtgagctccagcttcccaaccttctcctcg gcctcagccctgccacaagtacagttcttgcatgctttctttgctgcccccacctcacagtccccaac tggtgaaaacatcagtgaaaacatcacttaactgtttaggatccaaacctaaactggctattgcttac ggagttgaactaagttgacgggttttgttgctctaccaactggaagttgtggtttcttcaggtcctcc tcagtcaagagactgtcttcatcaatcagatcagagtcgtcgtcaatttgaatcttgggaagggcttt tgttgttttcttaaggggaaaagaagagcccatgctccagctagccttctttgccttaacctacaagt ggttcaaattagcacaaaaactaaagcctgcacagcaaaactaacatactataacacatgatcttaga ccactcactgtaacagattgcacgctatcctgcgagcttgcagcagaagattgcacttcagcaaatcc acccatcagtaacttgcgctcaatatcagtgttcggctaacggagacaatcataaaaaaattaagaac tttaaatcgacattgcaagagaaacgagacaacaaagacagattctgataagttaataccttctgact ggatgagggtgcagggctctgcaccaatactcttccaccagctttcagcacccgcctgatttcagcaa ccaattgctccctcaagctttccacgtttttaatgactgcaagaaccgcaccaactgatgcatcttca aaaggcaacttcacacctgatgcatggcagaacaatagtttggtcacggttttgtgataacacacaca cacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacacggcatagcactagcaaagcataaca caaattaaaaatcgaacattattgtttaatagaggctcccaaaatcaggaatgctagcacttggctta ttcataaacacacacatccataatcaggaagcatacattactgaaccattaaatttaataataaaaat tcagatgttgaatccatggctgaaattttctgttccttttgaaagtataatcctaactttcatctccg gctgacctggtaatatcttctagctccttttaccttatatttttttcagttgcttgagaaatagcggt aggaaaattgacacatgtcattcgtaaatccatgggacttagagcaactccaagagcttcctaagaaa ttgttccccaaaacatcatatagggggctgctgaaaaaaatccactaagagcaactccaaatgagtgc tagaaaatttccccaaaaaatgattattggggatatgttaaaaaattttaggggtgaattatcatgta tactccaacgattccgttaaacaaatgcgactcaatctcagccacagtctgagtcttacagacacaca caaaacctaacatgccggtggcagccacattatcacacaccggaacaaataactttgaggcaaaaaca cattatgcaagcagagaaacaccagaacagactcccagctgttgaagtgcaaatgtgttttctatatt tgagttacttgctggtaaatcccgatcgggaatgtaataatcggggagttgcattagcacttttgcag caagctaagccaactggttgggaatgtcaagcattcttgagcaggagtactagtcaagttaacaggct tcagatcccatccaatcattgtcacatttgaatataacttgagcgggtagaaaaaatatcataacaaa ggcatcatggactgaatcctaaacatcataacgaaggcatcatggactgaatagcgatcatcataaca acggcaggaaacagactcccaactgaatcatggttaacatggactgaattgtggtggcactgcatgca gtgcgagatgcatcatatccaggtcaattcaggttagcaaatgcaaggccacaggagttgccgccagg gaggaggctctaggcgaggtcacgggagttgcggtggaagttgctgcggattggggaagacctttgct cgccaatatttgagggagagtggagctcggatgcgggacgctgataatttgggggaaggaaaggggaa ctattgggtggagaattttttgtttttcaccccaaaacatgtttttgggttggttttagcgttcttct ggagatgctcttaagcaactagcacatgagacatggcatagatatcaagaactgcaaggagaggttca agttcaaatctgaagaagtctgcaagggcatgtccacagattcagcggttttggagttgggaaataac ttcagctttcttttctttttgttgttgagacgttcttttctttttcttttttttttgttgttgttgag gcgtcagctcgacgttttcattctacacattagaaagtggcagtagcgcaagagataccacagggcca aaactactagtggtactgaaagttttcattcgaagaatcagtaagtggcactatcacaggaagaaaca ttgcaaggccaaacttggcgtccactgactgcgcttcaatattacttgagcaacttgctagcctcccg atcccggaaggatggtttgataaactaattctctaattgaagtgggaacccttaagaaccaaacgtcc actactccaaatttgattgcaaaagaaaaaagaatctagcccattccgcggaatcacgccagaaggct cgctaattgaagcatgcaagcaaggcagcaaagagaacagcacgcatcgacgggttcctgcatccaca agcacgaacttggcaacttgccatggtcgcctcgagggaaagaaatagaagaaaaaatggaaagaggg caagacgggggcgaaaccagctaagctcaccgagcgccgcgcactgggtgatgacggcgacctcctcc cgcgagacctcggcggcggccgctagatcccccaccgcccggatcggcagggccacctcgtccgtcac cgcgagcgccgccgacatggagtcaaatctgcacacgagcacacgccgagaaccagaagagactcggt gaaaggagtatccccgaagagaaaaggaattagggttaatcgagggagggttttatctgcacgccccc ggattcatcacgcgactgctacctgagacgataagacgacgacgaaggcgaaatttgatttgggtttt gcctggcctcctctcctctcgaagcttcacaacacgccgagttatttgatattgtaacaatctcgtcg cgcggcttcaccagttattactccgtagttatacttcgctagtttagtatt (>MAGI4_(—)101388 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 5083 bp).

A suitable nucleic acid molecule that is modulated (e.g., up-regulated) by nitrogen is the non-symbiotic hemoglobin gene (MEST129-C09.T3Seq) from corn having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:39, as follows:

catccatccatccatccatttccaatcccaatcccaatcccaccagtgtccagtgctcggggaaccgac acagctcctcagcagagtagccagcacgacaagcccgatcagcagacagcaggcatggcactcgcggag gccgacgacggcgcggtggtcttcggcgaggagcaggaggcgctggtgctcaagtcgtgggccgtcatg aagaaggacgccgccaacctgggcctccgcttctttctcaaggtcttcgagatcgcgccgtcggcgaag cagatgttctcgttcctgcgcgactccgacgtgccgctggagaagaaccccaagctcaagacgcacgcc atgtccgtcttcgtcatgacctgcgaggcggcggcgcagcttcgcaaggccgggaaggtcaccgtgagg gagaccacgctcaagaggctgggcgccacgcacttgaggtacggcgtcgcagatggacacttcgaggtg acggggttcgcgctgcttgagacgatcaaggaggcgctccccgctgacatgtggagcctcgagatgaag aaagcctgggccgaggcctacagccagctggtggcggccatcaagcgggagatgaagcccgatgcctag tagtggcgattgcgaccagtgtttaacccatgacgcagcgccgtcacagatgtcccgtgtggtcttgcg ctttagcaatttctctctggagggagcgtgtattgttatcttgtgatcgagagcctgtgtgctgccttt gcttcttgtgattatatagctactgaataaagatgtagcgttcttcaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:39 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:40, as follows:

MALAEADDGAVVFGEEQEALVLKSWAVMKKDAANLGLRFFLKVFEIAPSA KQMFSFLRDSDVPLEKNPKLKTHAMSVFVMTCEAAAQLRKAGKVTVRETT LKRLGATHLRYGVADGHFEVTGFALLETIKEALPADMWSLEMKKAWAEAY SQLVAAIKREMKPDA

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:42, as follows:

TCGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAATCA CCTAGCTAGAAAGGAGAGCACCGAGCGCTGCACCACTACTGCTGATATGA GCACCTGAACCTTCTGGGCAACCACATCCGGTCCCTGCCCCTGATCATCC GCAGCAGCC ATG GCGCAGCAGCAGGAGAAGAAGCAGCAGCAGAGGGG GAAGCTGCAGAGGGTGCTAAGGGAGCAGAAGGCTCGGCTCTACATCA TCCGCCGATGCGTCGTCATGCTCCTCTGCTGGAGTGAC TGA TCCATCT CAAGCATGCATGATAAACCTGTGCTCTTTTTTTTTCCTTCTGTTTTTTCC CCTCTTTTTCCCATCCTTTTCACCTTGCCACTTTGGTGGGCGA (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start and stop codons; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product MEST213-C11-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:42 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:43, as follows:

MAQQQEKKQQQRGKLQRVLREQKARLYIIRRCVVMLLCWSD (The above sequence is presented after trimming. Cloned in pCR4-TOPO vector at the “TOPO Cloning site”.)

A suitable nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a gene that is up-regulated by nitrogen and contained in a full-length cDNA clone having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:44, as follows:

CGACTGGAGCACGAGGACACTGACATGGACTGAAGGAGTAGAAAAACTA ACACTTCACGTGCCCCCATCCTTTTCCGCCTCAAGTCAAGTGTTCACGGT CCATCCTCTCGAGAGTCTAGGCCCTTCTCCCGAAGCCGCAGACGCAGAAA ACGGCTCTGCAT ATG GAGGCGAAGAAGAAGCCGTCGGCCCCCGCCGCC GTCGGAGCCGCGCCGCCGCCGCCGGGTAACGGGTACTTCAGCACCGT CTTCTCCGCGCCGACTGCGGGAAGCGCAAGTGACGCAAAGCATGCGG ACTTGTACACGATGCTGAACAAGCAGAGCTCCAGAGGGCAGAATGGC AGAGATGGCAAATCCCACAGCCGCCCTACTTACAAGGATGGCAAACA TGCTCATCCAAATGAGCCATCAGAATCTCCTTACTTTGGCTCATCCGT GCATTACGGTGGTCGGGAGTTCTACAGCAGCGTTTTACGGAAGCAAC CAGCCAATGAACCCCATACGGATTACAAGGGGGACAACCCGGATGGC TCTGCTACCAGAGGTGATTGGTGGCAAGGTTCACTTTATTACTGAATA ATCTGCTGGGACCTCTCCCTTTTGTGAACAAGGAATAAAAGGGGTAGAGC TGAGAATGGTTTGTTGTAGTGTTGGAAGTGTTGACGCGAGCCGTCAAGCA TCGATCAATAGTAATAGTTGTAATAGTTGAAAGCTGCGTCGTGACTACAA GCATCCTGTTGGTGGAGGCAGTATTTTAGATCCATCATCACGCCTGGACA GATGTGGGTGTCC (Underlined=GeneRacer Oligo sequence; Bold/Underlined=start codon; coding sequence in bold) (Sequence of 5′ RACE product CW264H08-Full_Length cloned into pCR4-TOPO) (derived from MEST264-H08 GB_ACC# BM350368).

The predicted protein or polypeptide encoded by the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:44 has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:45, as follows:

MEAKKKPSAPAAVGAAPPPPGNGYFSTVFSAPTAGSASDAKHADLYTMLN KQSSRGQNGRDGKSHSRPTYKDGKHAHPNEPSESPYFGSSVHYGGREFYS SVLRKQPANEPHTDYKGDNPDGSATRGDWWQGSLYY

A putative promoter (upstream of the transcription site of the gene) for the gene of the full-length cDNA clone of SEQ ID NO:44 has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:46, as follows:

aaagcttacacttcataagagattcatagttttatcttacagccatcgttgtcaacctcaactaccat gcaatccgtttgggattcaactagcaagtaaggggatgtttgtttgggtttataatctgtctggatta tataatctaacaacttttgaactaacacttagttcaagaattgttggattatataatctaggcagatt ataatcccaaacaaacacttcctaagtcttgtacaggctatagagattatttttccagaatggaggag ggataatgacaagacctaaaagaaagttatgtttatggaaaacaaaaaaatggagccaggataatgac acaaaagaaaggtatgttttctggaataaaaaaaattaaatatatattttgaacttcctaagactgga acatgatacctaagctggacagatgatcaaggacagttttacccctggagacagaaaaacttataaga cttagctttctacatcatatcctgttttgtatgtctcataattaggttccttgtattaagacgaccaa cctatcatttgttatacaaaattcgaacgactgctgaagtctcgaagtatatagtctaggctgattaa aatgtaagtatgggttaaagtgctgctggtaacaaactaaatacaactgtatgatgttgttgacaaca agacataactcaaaatgggagcaccaacaaagtgactggcaccggtgatgcaagcataacctaaacac aactaatggaaaacgcgaattggaaactatgaaagtgtcccatatatggtataccttgttcacaaaag ggagaggtcccagcagattattcagtaataaagtgaacctgaaagtgaagtctagcaagtcagtgtat gagcgtccatgtatatactgaagataatacacaaattgatgcaatgataccttgccaccaatcacctc tggtagcagagccatccgggttgtcccccttgtactggatttaaaattcaaaataaacattagactta agcgctccaaatgatctgtactacgtatatataaaaaggttctacgtacatccgtatggggttcattg gctggttgcttccgtaaaacgctgctgtagaactcccgaccaccgtaatgcacggatgagccaaagta aggagattctgatggctcatttggatgagcatgtttgccatccttgtaagtagggcggctgtgggatt tgccatctgagcacgaatttaaacttccatagttaaaatcagtgctccagattaattctaagctaaga tggtgagaaaaggttttaagtatcgttgtgcttatgaacgcgacctaaatcgaagagaaacgtcaaat tgacaagagtacccagaactacctctgccattctgccctctggagctctgcttgttcagcatcgtgta caagtccgcatgctttgcgtcacttgcgcttcccttgaatgcaaaacaaagtcaaaatgtcaacgtca tatccaaatagattttgcataatcctataggtcctctattatcaaaatcacccctcatcagaattaaa ttgggaaaccgttgaagtccctccacaaatcgcaacatagtaacggactctttcatcaaatcgcacca gctcactaatcatgcaaaaaaattactaagaccccaggaatctgagagcaaaatatcagaacgatggc gtgaagagacggcccgtaccgcagtcggcgcggagaagacggtgctgaagtacccgttacccggcggc ggcggcgcggctccgacggcggcgggggccgacggcttcttcttcgcctccatatgcagagccgtttt ctgcgtctgcggcttcgggagaagggcctagactctcgagaggatggaccgtgaacacttgacttgag gcggaaaaggatgggggcacgtgaagtgttagttgtaggcggcggcggccggcggggaaggaagcagt tggttgttcgcctcgtggcgtcctgcttcggccaacatctgtgccggcatttaaaggcctcgacggag cgactcggtttcgctatttcggagatcttaaggggctgaatggagaaaattgtgtttagctttcatcc acatccatccaacctgcagtgagacttgcagagtgcagactcccgtattacagggacggtcctgaata agttagtagttttatttcagagattcaacgatgttagtatacgaattatttagacacgtttggaatca tccagttttttagcaatctgatttataaaaagtcaagtgcttccaaacatatcagattatgcttcggt tcttaaaaatcggactgcctcttccataactaaaattagtttttaacttggtagaaattagtgattgt aaccgctcttaggtctatgcatgtgattccctcgatgtctttatcccatttgaatatttaattattat ttaaaaattttagattaaaaatattaattcaatctatatttaaaattggcaacaaagaaaaacaaaga gaataatagaatcaattacttttggaatagagtaaggattgaatttgtctttgtgtataacaaagcta gaagttggtttccaagaactagcctctaacacgcacacctatttttt (>MAGI4_(—)139395 MAGI4.contigs_w_singleton.fas 2631 bp).

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid construct having a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn. The construct also includes a 5′ DNA promoter sequence and a 3′ terminator sequence. The nucleic acid molecule, the DNA promoter sequence, and the terminator sequence are operatively coupled to permit transcription of the nucleic acid molecule.

The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be inserted into any of the many available expression vectors and cell systems using reagents that are well known in the art. Suitable vectors include, but are not limited to, the following viral vectors such as lambda vector system gt11, gt WES.tB, Charon 4, and plasmid vectors such as pG-Cha, p35S-Cha, pBR322, pBR325, pACYC177, pACYC1084, pUC8, pUC9, pUC18, pUC19, pLG339, pR290, pKC37, pKC101, SV40, pBluescript II SK± or KS± (see “Stratagene Cloning Systems” Catalog (1993) from Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), pQE, pIH821, pGEX, pET series (see Studier et. al., “Use of T7 RNA Polymerase to Direct Expression of Cloned Genes,” Gene Expression Technology vol. 185 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and any derivatives thereof. Recombinant molecules can be introduced into cells via transformation, particularly transduction, conjugation, mobilization, or electroporation. The DNA sequences are cloned into the vector using standard cloning procedures in the art, as described by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989), and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, New York, N.Y.; John Wiley & Sons (1989), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In preparing a nucleic acid vector for expression, the various nucleic acid molecule sequences may normally be inserted or substituted into a bacterial plasmid. Any convenient plasmid may be employed, which will be characterized by having a bacterial replication system, a marker which allows for selection in a bacterium, and generally one or more unique, conveniently located restriction sites. Numerous plasmids, referred to as transformation vectors, are available for plant transformation. The selection of a vector will depend on the preferred transformation technique and target species for transformation. A variety of vectors are available for stable transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soilborne bacterium that causes crown gall. Crown gall are characterized by tumors or galls that develop on the lower stem and main roots of the infected plant. These tumors are due to the transfer and incorporation of part of the bacterium plasmid DNA into the plant chromosomal DNA. This transfer DNA (T-DNA) is expressed along with the normal genes of the plant cell. The plasmid DNA, pTi, or Ti-DNA, for “tumor inducing plasmid,” contains the vir genes necessary for movement of the T-DNA into the plant. The T-DNA carries genes that encode proteins involved in the biosynthesis of plant regulatory factors, and bacterial nutrients (opines). The T-DNA is delimited by two 25 bp imperfect direct repeat sequences called the “border sequences.” By removing the oncogene and opine genes, and replacing them with a gene of interest, it is possible to transfer foreign DNA into the plant without the formation of tumors or the multiplication of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Fraley et al., “Expression of Bacterial Genes in Plant Cells,” Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. 80:4803-4807 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

Further improvement of this technique led to the development of the binary vector system (Bevan, “Binary Agrobacterium Vectors for Plant Transformation,” Nucleic Acids Res. 12:8711-8721 (1984), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In this system, all the T-DNA sequences (including the borders) are removed from the pTi, and a second vector containing T-DNA is introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This second vector has the advantage of being replicable in E. coli as well as A. tumefaciens, and contains a multiclonal site that facilitates the cloning of a transgene. An example of a commonly-used vector is pBin19 (Frisch et al., “Complete Sequence of the Binary Vector Bin 19,” Plant Molec. Biol 27:405-409 (1995), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Any appropriate vectors now known or later described for genetic transformation are suitable for use with the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,224 to Cohen and Boyer, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes the production of expression systems in the form of recombinant plasmids using restriction enzyme cleavage and ligation with DNA ligase. These recombinant plasmids are then introduced by means of transformation and replicated in unicellular cultures including prokaryotic organisms and eukaryotic cells grown in tissue culture.

Certain “control elements” or “regulatory sequences” are also incorporated into the vector-construct. These include non-translated regions of the vector, promoters, and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions which interact with host cellular proteins to carry out transcription and translation. Such elements may vary in their strength and specificity. Depending on the vector system and host utilized, any number of suitable transcription and translation elements, including constitutive and inducible promoters, may be used. Tissue-specific and organ-specific promoters can also be used.

A constitutive promoter is a promoter that directs expression of a gene throughout the development and life of an organism. Examples of some constitutive promoters that are widely used for inducing expression of transgenes include the nopaline synthase (“NOS”) gene promoter from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,322 to Rogers et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), the cauliflower mosaic virus (“CaMY”) 35S and 19S promoters (U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,605 to Fraley et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), those derived from any of the several actin genes, which are known to be expressed in most cells types (U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,068 to Privalle et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and the ubiquitin promoter, which is a gene product known to accumulate in many cell types.

An inducible promoter is a promoter that is capable of directly or indirectly activating transcription of one or more DNA sequences or genes in response to an inducer. In the absence of an inducer, the DNA sequences or genes will not be transcribed. The inducer can be a nutrient (e.g., nitrogen, including nitrogen in the form of nitrate), a chemical agent, such as a metabolite, growth regulator, herbicide, or phenolic compound, or a physiological stress directly imposed upon the plant such as cold, heat, salt, toxins, or through the action of a pathogen or disease agent such as a virus or fungus. A plant cell containing an inducible promoter may be exposed to an inducer by externally applying the inducer to the cell or plant such as by spraying, watering, heating, or by exposure to the operative pathogen. An example of an appropriate inducible promoter is a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter (Schena et al., “A Steroid-Inducible Gene Expression System for Plant Cells,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:10421-5 (1991), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Expression of the transgene-encoded protein is induced in the transformed plants when the transgenic plants are brought into contact with nanomolar concentrations of a glucocorticoid, or by contact with dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analog (see Schena et al., “A Steroid-Inducible Gene Expression System for Plant Cells,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10421-5 (1991); Aoyama et al., “A Glucocorticoid-Mediated Transcriptional Induction System in Transgenic Plants,” Plant J. 11:605-612 (1997); and McNellis et al., “Glucocorticoid-Inducible Expression of a Bacterial Avirulence Gene in Transgenic Arabidopsis Induces Hypersensitive Cell Death, Plant J. 14(2):247-57 (1998), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety). In addition, inducible promoters include promoters that function in a tissue specific manner to regulate the gene of interest within selected tissues of the plant. Examples of such tissue specific or developmentally regulated promoters include seed, flower, fruit, or root specific promoters as are well known in the field (U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,385 to Shewmaker et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

A number of tissue- and organ-specific promoters have been developed for use in genetic engineering of plants (Potenza et al., “Targeting Transgene Expression in Research, Agricultural, and Environmental Applications: Promoters used in Plant Transformation,” In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. Plant 40:1-22 (2004), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Examples of such promoters include those that are floral-specific (Annadana et al., “Cloning of the Chrysanthemum UEP1 Promoter and Comparative Expression in Florets and Leaves of Dendranthema grandiflora,” Transgenic Res. 11:437-445(2002), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), seed-specific (Kluth et al., “5′ Deletion of a gbss1 Promoter Region Leads to Changes in Tissue and Developmental Specificities,” Plant Mol. Biol. 49:669-682 (2002), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), root-specific (Yamamoto et al., “Characterization of cis-acting Sequences Regulating Root-Specific Gene Expression in Tobacco,” Plant Cell 3:371-382 (1991), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), fruit-specific (Fraser et al., “Evaluation of Transgenic Tomato Plants Expressing an Additional Phytoene Synthase in a Fruit-Specific Manner,” Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 99:1092-1097 (2002), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and tuber/storage organ-specific (Visser et al., “Expression of a Chimaeric Granule-Bound Starch Synthase-GUS gene in transgenic Potato Plants,” Plant Mol Biol. 17:691-699 (1991), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Targeted expression of an introduced gene (transgene) is necessary when expression of the transgene could have detrimental effects if expressed throughout the plant. On the other hand, silencing a gene throughout a plant could also have negative effects. However, this problem could be avoided by localizing the silencing to a region by a tissue-specific promoter.

A suitable promoter can also be one that is gene-specific, in that it regulates transcription of a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. A suitable gene-specific promoter gene-specific promoter (derived from MAGI93503) has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 as follows:

CGTTGTCGGAACGTCCCGTCGATGTTCGGAAACGAGCACGACCCGTCGACTCCTGCTTCTTGGCGGAGA AGAAAGGGGACGACGAGCGAGCGTTTTGACTTTGATTTCCTCGCTAAAACCGGCCGCTGTTTTTGCTTT CCGCGCGAGCCGCCCACGTTATTGACTGACGCTGGTGCGAGAGCGCTGCTGCCTCTGCGGTTGCCGTCT GCGCTCCAGTGGTAGCCGAGAATATTGTTAGGTCCGTAGGATCAGATTTGCTACGTACTAAAAAAATTC CTTAAACTTTAATTGTGTATTTTTTTTAAAAAAAATTATAGCATTTATCAGCAACAAAACTCTAAAAAC ATGTTTAGTTCGCTGCTTAATTTATCACATATTGTCTAAATTTTATATATAAATTATTTAATTCGAACG ACTAACCAGAACCCAGACCTACAATAAATTTGCCCCCGCTGCTGCGCTCCCCAGCTCCCCAAGTCCCTA ACCCGCCCTCGCTTTGTCGCCGCGGCACACGGTTTTGGCCGTGGACAGGACAGTTGCACCCTAGCCCCA TTGGCCGATTCCGAGCTAGGAAGGAGTATATGCGTATCGGTAGTAACCGAGGAGCAACGCAACATGTCC ACAGCCCGCGCGCTGGTAACGGGTCCATGCGTCTTGGCTCATCAGGTGCCCCAAGGGACGCCCTCGCCC GGTCTGACCCACCTATATAAACTTAAAACTTGTGCCCCAACATCATCAGTTCGTATCACACCCAACCTC CCACTGTAAAAAAGAGCAGCGGAACGTGCGTGCATCCATCCATCCATCCATTTCCAATCCCAATCCCAA TCCCACCAGTGTCCAGTGCTCGGGGAACCGACACAGCTCCTCAGCAGAGTAGCCAGCACGACAAGCCCG ATCAGCAGACAGCAGGCATG This gene-specific promoter is a fragment of genomic DNA of maize that is likely to include promoter elements that allow the gene of SEQ ID NO:39 to exhibit nitrogen-regulated expression. Other suitable promoters include those having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:41, and/or SEQ ID NO:46.

The nucleic acid construct of the present invention also includes an operable 3′ regulatory region, selected from among those which are capable of providing correct transcription termination and polyadenylation of mRNA for expression in the host cell of choice, operably linked to a modified trait nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. A number of 3′ regulatory regions are known to be operable in plants. Exemplary 3′ regulatory regions include, without limitation, the nopaline synthase (NOS) 3′ regulatory region (Fraley et al., “Expression of Bacterial Genes in Plant Cells,” Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 80:4803-4807 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) and the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 3′ regulatory region (Odell et al., “Identification of DNA Sequences Required for Activity of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S Promoter,” Nature 313(6005):810-812 (1985), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Virtually any 3′ regulatory region known to be operable in plants would be suitable for use in conjunction with the present invention.

The different components described above can be ligated together to produce expression systems which contain the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention, using well known molecular cloning techniques as described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989), and Ausubel et al. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, New York, N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons (1989), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Once the nucleic acid construct of the present invention has been prepared, it is ready to be incorporated into a host cell. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention relates to a recombinant host cell containing one or more of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention. Basically, this method is carried out by transforming a host cell with a nucleic acid construct of the present invention under conditions effective to achieve transcription of the nucleic acid molecule in the host cell. This is achieved with standard cloning procedures known in the art, such as described by Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Springs Laboratory, Cold Springs Harbor, N.Y. (1989), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Suitable hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, viruses, yeast cells, mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, and the like. Preferably the host is either a bacterial cell or a plant cell. Methods of transformation may result in transient or stable expression of the nucleic acid under control of the promoter. Preferably, a nucleic acid construct of the present invention is stably inserted into the genome of the recombinant plant cell as a result of the transformation, although transient expression can serve an important purpose, particularly when the plant under investigation is slow-growing.

Plant tissue suitable for transformation includes leaf tissue, root tissue, meristems, zygotic and somatic embryos, callus, protoplasts, tassels, pollen, embryos, anthers, and the like. The means of transformation chosen is that most suited to the tissue to be transformed.

Transient expression in plant tissue can be achieved by particle bombardment (Klein et al., “High-Velocity Microprojectiles for Delivering Nucleic Acids Into Living Cells,” Nature 327:70-73 (1987), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), also known as biolistic transformation of the host cell, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,050, 5,036,006, and 5,100,792, all to Sanford et al., and in Emerschad et al., “Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Development from Immature Zygotic Embryos of Seedless Grapes (Vitis vinifera),” Plant Cell Reports 14:6-12 (1995), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In particle bombardment, tungsten or gold microparticles (1 to 2 μm in diameter) are coated with the DNA of interest and then bombarded at the tissue using high pressure gas. In this way, it is possible to deliver foreign DNA into the nucleus and obtain a temporal expression of the gene under the current conditions of the tissue. Biologically active particles (e.g., dried bacterial cells containing the vector and heterologous DNA) can also be propelled into plant cells. Other variations of particle bombardment, now known or hereafter developed, can also be used. Further, particle bombardment transformation can be used to stably introduce the nucleic acid construct into plant cells.

Another appropriate method of stably introducing the nucleic acid construct into plant cells is to infect a plant cell with Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes previously transformed with the nucleic acid construct. As described above, the Ti (or RI) plasmid of Agrobacterium enables the highly successful transfer of a foreign nucleic acid molecule into plant cells. A variation of Agrobacterium transformation uses vacuum infiltration in which whole plants are used (Senior, “Uses of Plant Gene Silencing,” Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews 15:79-119 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

Yet another method of introduction is fusion of protoplasts with other entities, either minicells, cells, lysosomes, or other fusible lipid-surfaced bodies (Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79:1859-63 (1982), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). The nucleic acid molecule may also be introduced into the plant cells by electroporation (Fromm et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 82:5824 (1985), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In this technique, plant protoplasts are electroporated in the presence of plasmids containing the expression cassette. Electrical impulses of high field strength reversibly permeabilize biomembranes allowing the introduction of the plasmids. Electroporated plant protoplasts reform the cell wall, divide, and regenerate. Other methods of transformation include polyethylene-mediated plant transformation, micro-injection, physical abrasives, and laser beams (Senior, “Uses of Plant Gene Silencing,” Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews 15:79-119 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). The precise method of transformation is not critical to the practice of the present invention. Any method that results in efficient transformation of the host cell of choice is appropriate for practicing the present invention. Transfromation can also be achieved using the “whisker” method, as is well known in the art.

After transformation, the transformed plant cells must be regenerated. Plant regeneration from cultured protoplasts is described in Evans et al., Handbook of Plant Cell Cultures, Vol 1, New York, N.Y.: MacMillan Publishing Co. (1983); Vasil, ed., Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol. I (1984) and Vol. III (1986), Orlando: Acad. Press, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Means for regeneration vary from species to species of plants, but generally a suspension of transformed protoplasts or a petri plate containing explants is first provided. Callus tissue is formed and shoots may be induced from callus and subsequently rooted. Alternatively, embryo formation can be induced in the callus tissue. These embryos germinate as natural embryos to form plants. The culture media will generally contain various amino acids and hormones, such as auxin and cytokinins. Efficient regeneration will depend on the medium, on the genotype, and on the history of the culture. If these three variables are controlled, then regeneration is usually reproducible and repeatable.

Preferably, transformed cells are first identified using a selection marker simultaneously introduced into the host cells along with the nucleic acid construct of the present invention. Suitable selection markers include, without limitation, markers encoding for antibiotic resistance, such as the neomycin phosphotransferae II (“nptII”) gene which confers kanamycin resistance (Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:4803-4807 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), and the genes which confer resistance to gentamycin, G418, hygromycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and the like. Cells or tissues are grown on a selection medium containing the appropriate antibiotic, whereby generally only those transformants expressing the antibiotic resistance marker continue to grow. Other types of markers are also suitable for inclusion in the expression cassette of the present invention. For example, a gene encoding for herbicide tolerance, such as tolerance to sulfonylurea is useful, or the dhfr gene, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Bourouis et al., EMBO J. 2:1099-1104 (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Similarly, “reporter genes,” which encode for enzymes providing for production of an identifiable compound are suitable. The most widely used reporter gene for gene fusion experiments has been uidA, a gene from Escherichia coli that encodes the β-glucuronidase protein, also known as GUS (Jefferson et al., “GUS Fusions: β Glucuronidase as a Sensitive and Versatile Gene Fusion Marker in Higher Plants,” EMBO J 6:3901-3907 (1987), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Similarly, enzymes providing for production of a compound identifiable by luminescence, such as luciferase, are useful. The selection marker employed will depend on the target species; for certain target species, different antibiotics, herbicide, or biosynthesis selection markers are preferred.

Plant cells and tissues selected by means of an inhibitory agent or other selection marker are then tested for the acquisition of the transgene (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

After the fusion gene containing a nucleic acid construct of the present invention is stably incorporated in transgenic plants, the transgene can be transferred to other plants by sexual crossing. Any of a number of standard breeding techniques 10 can be used, depending upon the species to be crossed. Once transgenic plants of this type are produced, the plants themselves can be cultivated in accordance with conventional procedure so that the nucleic acid construct is present in the resulting plants. Alternatively, transgenic seeds are recovered from the transgenic plants. These seeds can then be planted in the soil and cultivated using conventional procedures to produce transgenic plants. The component parts and fruit of such plants are encompassed by the present invention.

The present invention can be utilized in conjunction with a wide variety of plants or their seeds. Suitable plants can include dicots and monocots. More particular, suitable plants can include the following: rice, corn, soybean, canola, potato, wheat, mung bean, alfalfa, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, sugarcane, banana, Arabidopsis thaliana, Saintpaulia, petunia, pelargonium, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, carnation, crocus, marigold, daffodil, pine, Medicago truncatula, Sandersonlia aurantiaca, and zinnia.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of expressing a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in a plant. This method involves providing a transgenic plant or plant seed transformed with a nucleic acid construct having a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn, a 5′ DNA promoter sequence, and a 3′ terminator sequence. The nucleic acid molecule, the DNA promoter sequence, and the terminator sequence are operatively coupled to permit transcription of the nucleic acid molecule. The method also involves growing the transgenic plant or a transgenic plant grown from the transgenic plant seed under conditions effective to express the nucleic acid molecule in the transgenic plant or the plant grown from the transgenic plant seed. In one embodiment, the transgenic plant or plant seed is provided by transforming a non-transgenic plant or a non-transgenic plant seed with the nucleic acid construct of the present invention to yield said transgenic plant or plant seed. In one aspect, the growing step is effective in reducing nitrogen uptake of the transgenic plant or the plant grown from the transgenic plant seed. In another aspect, the growing step is effective in increasing nitrogen uptake of the transgenic plant or the plant grown from the transgenic plant seed. In yet another aspect, the growing step is effective in increasing efficiency of nitrogen utilization of the transgenic plant or the plant grown from the transgenic plant seed. Transformation of the transgenic plant or plant seed can be achieved using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, the whisker method, vacuum infiltration, biolistic transformation, electroporation, micro-injection, polyethylene-mediated transformation, or laser-beam transformation.

The present invention also relates to an isolated DNA promoter from corn suitable for inducing nitrogen-regulated expression of a protein encoded by an isolated DNA molecule operably associated with the DNA promoter. A suitable DNA promoter for use in this method can be any one of the promoters described herein, including, for example, the promoters having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:41, and/or SEQ ID NO:46. The isolated DNA promoter can be used to prepare nucleic acid constructs as previously described. In a particular nucleic acid construct, the isolated DNA promoter can be operably linked to an isolated nucleic acid that either has a nucleotide sequence (or encoding portion thereof) of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:42, and/or SEQ ID NO:44, or encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:43, and/or SEQ ID NO:45. Other suitable genes from corn that can be regulated by the DNA promoter of the present invention include, for example, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, Uroporphyrin-III methyl transferase. Expression vectors can be prepared by inserting the nucleic acid construct in an appropriate vector (as described in more detail supra), and transgenic host cells and plants (including their component parts such as fruits and seeds) can be produced by transforming them with the nucleic acid construct containing the DNA promoter.

The present invention also relates to a method of directing nitrogen-regulated expression of an isolated nucleic acid in plants. This methods involves transforming a plant cell with the nucleic acid construct that includes an isolated DNA promoter suitable for inducing nitrogenregulated expression of a protein encoded by an isolated DNA molecule operably associated with the DNA promoter. This method also involves regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell. By this method, expression of the nucleic acid molecule, under control of the DNA promoter, occurs in the plant and is upregulated by nitrogen. A suitable DNA promoter for use in this method can be any one of the promoters described herein, including, for example, the promoters having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:41, and/or SEQ ID NO:46.

Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are, therefore, considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow. 

1. A nucleic acid construct comprising: a nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn; a 5′ DNA promoter sequence; and a 3′ terminator sequence, wherein the nucleic acid molecule, the DNA promoter sequence, and the terminator sequence are operatively coupled to permit transcription of the nucleic acid molecule.
 2. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid molecule either: (a) encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:43, and SEQ ID NO:45; or (b) comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:42, and SEQ ID NO:44; or (c) comprises a coding portion of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:42, and SEQ ID NO:44.
 3. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 1, wherein the DNA promoter sequence is a constitutive plant promoter.
 4. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 1, wherein the DNA promoter sequence is an inducible plant promoter.
 5. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 4, wherein the inducible plant promoter is a nitrogen inducible plant promoter.
 6. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 5, wherein the nitrogen inducible plant promoter comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:41, and SEQ ID NO:46.
 7. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 1, wherein the DNA promoter sequence is a tissue-specific promoter.
 8. The nucleic acid construct according to claim 1, wherein the DNA promoter sequence is an organ-specific promoter.
 9. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 1. 10. A host cell transformed with the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 1. 11. The host cell according to claim 10, wherein the host cell is a bacterial cell or a plant cell.
 12. The host cell according to claim 11, wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 13. A plant transformed with the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 1. 14. The plant according to claim 13, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of nice, corn, soybean, canola, potato, wheat, mung bean, alfalfa, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, sugarcane, banana, Arabidopsis thaliana, Saintpaulia, petunia, pelargonium, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, carnation, crocus, marigold, daffodil, pine, Medicago truncatula, Sandersonia aurantiaca, and zinnia.
 15. A component part of the plant according to claim
 13. 16. A fruit of the plant according to claim
 13. 17. A plant seed produced from the plant according to claim
 13. 18. A plant seed transformed with the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 1. 19. A method of expressing a nucleic acid molecule modulated by nitrogen in a plant, said method comprising: providing a transgenic plant or plant seed transformed with a nucleic acid construct according to claim 1 and growing the transgenic plant or a plant grown from the transgenic plant seed under conditions effective to express the nucleic acid molecule in said transgenic plant or said plant grown from the transgenic plant seed.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said growing is effective in reducing nitrogen uptake of said transgenic plant or said plant grown from the transgenic plant seed.
 21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said growing is effective in increasing nitrogen uptake of said transgenic plant or said plant grown from the transgenic plant seed.
 22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said growing is effective in increasing efficiency of nitrogen utilization of said transgenic plant or said plant grown from the transgenic plant seed.
 23. The method according to claim 19, wherein a transgenic plant is provided.
 24. The method according to claim 19, wherein a transgenic plant seed is provided.
 25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, soybean, canola, potato, wheat, mung bean, alfalfa, barley, rye, cotton, sunflower, peanut, sweet potato, bean, pea, chicory, lettuce, endive, cabbage, brussel sprout, beet, parsnip, turnip, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, spinach, onion, garlic, eggplant, pepper, celery, carrot, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, apple, pear, melon, citrus, strawberry, grape, raspberry, pineapple, tobacco, tomato, sorghum, sugarcane, banana, Arabidopsis thaliana, Saintpaulia, petunia, pelargonium, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, carnation, crocus, marigold, daffodil, pine, Medicago truncatula, Sandersonia aurantiaca, and zinnia.
 26. The method according to claim 19, wherein said providing comprises transforming a non-transgenic plant or a non-transgenic plant seed with the nucleic acid construct to yield said transgenic plant or plant seed.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said transforming comprises Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, whisker method transformation, vacuum infiltration, biolistic transformation, electroporation, micro-injection, polyethylene-mediated transformation, or laser-beam transformation.
 28. An isolated DNA promoter from corn suitable for inducing nitrogen-regulated expression of a protein encoded by an isolated DNA molecule operably associated with the DNA promoter, wherein said DNA promoter comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:41, and SEQ ID NO:46.
 29. A nucleic acid construct comprising: an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein; an isolated DNA promoter according to claim 28, wherein the DNA promoter is operably linked 5′ to the isolated nucleic acid molecule to induce transcription of the nucleic acid molecule; and a 3′ terminator sequence operably linked to the isolated nucleic acid molecule.
 30. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 29. 31. A host cell transformed with the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 29. 32. A plant transformed with the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 29. 33. A plant seed produced from the plant according to claim
 32. 34. A plant seed transformed with the nucleic acid construct according to claim
 29. 35. A method of directing nitrogen-regulated expression of an isolated nucleic acid in plants, said method comprising: transforming a plant cell with a nucleic acid construct according to claim 29 and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell, wherein expression of the nucleic acid molecule, under control of the DNA promoter, occurs in the plant and is upregulated by nitrogen.
 36. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that is modulated by nitrogen in corn, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises: a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:42, and SEQ ID NO:44; or a coding portion of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:42, and SEQ ID NO:44.
 37. An isolated protein or polypeptide, wherein said isolated protein or polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:43, and SEQ ID NO:45. 